After Transmigrating Into a Book, She Struck It Rich in the Eighties #301-423
Author: 渐进淡出
Date: 2026-03-13T04:14:46+00:00

Chapter 301: Jiang Xia is the Formidable One

Jiang Xia looked at him. “What do you mean, ‘killing three birds with one stone’?”

Zhou Chenglei explained, “Jiang Dong and I will move one vacuum packaging machine over to the plastic factory’s booth, and then grab some food items from the food factory…”

Jiang Xia understood immediately. “I see. Let’s do as you suggested. You and Jiang Dong take one vacuum machine to the plastic factory.”

As for why they weren’t bringing the plastic bags and food items to Jiang Dong’s machinery booth instead? Wouldn’t that be more convenient?

It was because the customers visiting the machinery exhibition hall were targeted—they were specifically there to order heavy equipment.

However, the customers visiting the plastic factory could be in the food business or any other trade, since almost every industry needed plastic bags.

If they encountered a customer in the food business, they could pitch the food products right then and there.

Furthermore, anyone in the food business who needed plastic bags would also need a vacuum packaging machine. Wasn’t that killing three birds with one stone?

A vacuum machine costing around one thousand dollars could help a business owner’s food products stay fresh longer and reach farther markets. No sensible business person would be unwilling to make that investment.

Jiang Xia had originally thought about promoting the plastic bags and vacuum machines while selling food, but she hadn’t considered moving the equipment to the plastic factory. Actually, moving it to the food factory booth might have been an even better idea!

However, Jiang Xia also noticed someone’s underlying “sourness.”

The corners of Zhou Chenglei’s eyebrows lifted. “Mm.”

Jiang Xia added, “Let’s also move one to the food factory. I’ll go to the food factory…”

Zhou Chenglei’s brow instantly dropped. “…Alright.”

Jiang Xia found it hilarious. And he had the nerve to say that those Pig’s Trotters in Vinegar weren’t sour because they were made with sweet vinegar!

All the vinegar in the world was sour; anyone saying otherwise was a liar!

Jiang Xia gave him a playful glare. “I’m going to find Auntie Fang to discuss with Factory Director Feng how we can collaborate for mutual benefit.”

The glint of a smile returned to Zhou Chenglei’s eyes. “Good! Have the Director of the Beijing Machinery Factory go over there as well.”

Once the couple reached an agreement, they divided the work.

When Jiang Xia returned to the food factory booth, Gu Jingxuan noticed Zhou Chenglei was nowhere to be seen, and a slight smile touched his lips. “Xiaxia, are you full?”

Jiang Xia gave a polite smile and nodded. “Yes, I am.”

She then turned to Fang Aiyuan. “Auntie Fang, I have something I’d like to discuss with you…”

Under Jiang Xia’s mediation and suggestions, the three factory directors quickly reached a consensus. They would cooperate by helping promote each other’s products for their mutual benefit.

Factory Director Feng was a generous man; he even decided that for every vacuum packaging machine purchased, he would throw in a thousand one-catty (500g) transparent food-grade packaging bags for free.

Jiang Xia smiled. “Factory Director Feng is truly generous and forward-thinking.”

Jiang Xia had always believed that in business, one must give to receive. Why did people buy vacuum machines?

To vacuum-seal their products, of course.

The raw material for vacuum packaging was the bags themselves; the two went hand in hand like a needle and thread.

Director Feng wasn’t just giving away plastic bags; he was sending out invitations to future repeat customers!

Jiang Xia offered another suggestion: “Factory Director Feng, see if this works: what if you offer a free vacuum machine to any customer who orders over a hundred thousand dollars worth of plastic bags? You can calculate the exact figures and what’s most cost-effective yourself; I’m just giving an example.”

Director Feng slapped his thigh. “Xiao Xia really has the best ideas! It’s settled! One free machine for every hundred-thousand-dollar order!”

The packaging machine and the bags were a match made in heaven! Giving one away for a hundred-thousand-dollar order was definitely not a loss! Once the customers returned to keep ordering bags, the customer base would only grow.

Director Feng felt that Jiang Xia was truly formidable.

At such a young age, she had the charisma to gather the directors of three different factories to discuss business and even convince them to follow her lead.

This girl had thought through the pros and cons of the cooperation from every angle and had already devised solutions.

Initially, they had planned to help each other for free, but she had vetoed that. She insisted it was better to give each other a small commission so that conflicts wouldn’t easily arise, allowing for long-term cooperation that extended beyond the Canton Fair.

He thought back to when he was Jiang Xia’s age—he hadn’t known the first thing about anything!

Yet here she was, already spearheading a major collaboration.

Hearing this, Fang Aiyuan added, “Then I’ll also include a free case of instant noodles with each sale.”

Since the instant noodles weren’t selling anyway, giving some away alongside the vacuum machines could be considered a form of marketing.

Once everything was negotiated, Fang Aiyuan went back and sent staff to deliver some food items suitable for vacuum sealing to the plastic factory.

Gu Jingxuan wanted to go over and help, but she stopped him.

Jiang Xia didn’t go anywhere else; she stayed directly at the plastic factory’s booth. Factory Director Feng asked her with a smile, “Xiao Xia, how old are you this year?”

“Twenty-one by nominal age.”

Director Feng sighed, “The younger generation is truly formidable!”

His youngest son was two years older than Jiang Xia.

But his son only knew how to call home every month to say he didn’t have enough money.

Look at Comrade Xiao Xia; she was already making money, and likely earning more than he did as a factory director.

Comparing people really was a recipe for frustration!

“Xiao Xia, why did you get married so early? I have a son who is quite handsome. If you hadn’t been married…”

How wonderful it would have been if she could have married his son and become his daughter-in-law!

Zhou Chenglei happened to be carrying a vacuum machine over with Jiang Dong just then. “…”

He suddenly felt like he didn’t want Jiang Xia staying here anymore!

Seeing Zhou Chenglei’s icy gaze, Director Feng rubbed his brilliant, balding head and laughed. “I just meant I’d like Xiao Xia to be my goddaughter! Comrade Zhou, don’t overthink it!”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t bother responding. Given that the man’s head was shiny enough to be used as a mirror, he could already imagine what the son looked like.

He felt quite reassured.

Once everything was set up, everyone returned to their positions.

Zhou Chenglei went back to selling boats, Jiang Dong went back to selling vacuum machines, and Jiang Xia stayed at the plastic factory to sell the machines and packaging bags, while also cross-promoting the food factory’s sausages, hams, and instant noodles.

“Dear friends, step right up and don’t miss out! Come and see this miraculous machine, developed by our very own Q University…”

Perhaps because Jiang Xia’s “step right up” pitch had a bit of theatrical flair, the passing foreign merchants couldn’t help but stop and walk over.

While explaining, Jiang Xia placed slices of luncheon meat into a packaging bag, then used the machine to vacuum-seal it.

Anyone in the food industry knew that cooked foods required vacuum packaging and high-temperature sterilization to be put on the market. Conventional products required manual bagging and separate vacuum chambers, which was an intermittent operation that easily led to product contamination and spoilage.

But this machine didn’t require a vacuum chamber. It sucked the air directly, packaged, and sealed the bag in one go—and it was fast!

Furthermore, the machine was compact and easy to move. If a factory were equipped with several of these, they could have product bagging on one side and immediate sealing on the other.

It was much cleaner, more convenient, and faster!

Those who understood the industry immediately asked, “How much does this machine cost?”

Jiang Xia instantly laid out the promotional offer. “This vacuum packaging machine is a newly developed model. We have a special offer for the Canton Fair. The original price is 1,300 USD per unit. During the fair, it’s not 1,300, and it’s not even 1,200. It’s only 1,100 dollars! And it comes with…”

Chapter 302: Factory Director Feng Was Beaming with Pride

Jiang Xia pulled out a thick stack of packaging bags. “We’re also giving away a thousand 500-gram packaging bags! There are a hundred in each pack, and we’re giving away ten packs in total. Isn’t that a great deal? But wait, there’s more…”

Jiang Xia then brought out a crate of instant noodles.

“More free gifts! One crate of our Dongcheng Food Factory’s instant noodles, twenty-four packs per crate. These noodles are delicious; they can be enjoyed as soup noodles or tossed noodles. I’ll prepare some tossed noodles for everyone to sample right now.”

Some staff members had already taken some instant noodles backstage to soak them in hot water, and they were now bringing them to the display stand.

As Jiang Xia tossed the noodles with sauce, she said, “There are twenty-four packs in a crate. Is one pack a day enough for a month? No! It’s not enough, so I’ll add six more packs! This is coming out of my own pocket as a gift to thank everyone for taking the time to stop and listen to me.

“In our country, the number six is very lucky. It represents ‘smooth sailing’ and the phrase ‘Six-Six-Six.’ This ‘Six-Six-Six’ is a play on words that refers to being ‘bullish.’ Today, I am gifting this smooth sailing to all of you, wishing you success every day, soaring success, and endless good fortune! These six packs of noodles are my personal gift, but giving just six might seem a bit stingy!

“To thank everyone for crossing the ocean to attend the Canton Fair and keeping this thousand-mile appointment, the director of our Hongfa Plastic Factory has also prepared an even bigger gift. Anyone who orders packaging bags from our plastic factory with a transaction amount of at least one hundred thousand dollars will receive one vacuum machine for free.

“If you order two hundred thousand dollars’ worth, you get two machines, and so on! In other words, as long as your order reaches one hundred thousand dollars, you get a vacuum packaging machine without spending an extra dime! However, quantities are limited—we only have fifty units, first come, first served! Additionally, I will personally throw in another thousand of these sealed bags with zippers and a crate of instant noodles…”

If Jiang Xia’s strategy for selling fabric had relied on wit and weaving five thousand years of Chinese cultural heritage into the textiles, she was now utilizing modern live-stream sales culture.

The prices were competitive, and the mountain of free gifts made everyone feel they were getting an incredible bargain.

A Taiwanese businessman, who had already planned to order packaging bags and was looking to buy a vacuum machine, immediately spoke up. “I want to order one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of packaging bags. Will I really get a free vacuum machine?”

Jiang Xia replied with a smile, “Yes! You’ll get one of these vacuum machines for free, plus a thousand packaging bags and a crate of instant noodles. It’s a fantastic deal! This promotion is only available during the Canton Fair. Furthermore, the extra thousand bags and the crate of noodles are only being offered today.”

Someone else asked, “If I order the bags now, when can I take delivery? Will the vacuum packaging machine be shipped with the bags?”

“You can take delivery of the packaging bags right now; our plastic factory has a million units in stock. As for the vacuum packaging machines, we have the first hundred units ready to go. After those hundred are gone, you’ll have to wait in line. The sooner you place your order, the sooner you’ll get your machine.”

Considering that one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of packaging bags was a significant volume, Jiang Xia added, “After you order, don’t worry about having too many! It’s not good to let them sit for too long, so you can withdraw as much stock from the factory as you need, when you need it. You don’t have to take all one hundred or two hundred thousand dollars’ worth at once. Just take what you need as you go. Moreover, our packaging bags come in many sizes, including these very practical zipper-seal bags. I’m giving away a thousand for you to try…”

After hearing Jiang Xia’s introduction, many foreign businessmen began placing orders one after another.

One hundred thousand dollars’ worth of bags was indeed a lot, but when spread across various sizes and models, it was manageable.

After all, these bags were being shipped overseas; it was only cost-effective to order in bulk, otherwise, the shipping costs alone would outweigh the benefits.

…

Through this bundled selling strategy, the hundred vacuum packaging machines in stock were all given away before the afternoon was over.

For food manufacturers, the number of vacuum packaging machines they owned directly correlated to their production speed and efficiency.

Faster production meant faster profits.

Most of the foreign merchants attending the fair had been in business for many years and had their own sales channels. They weren’t worried about being unable to sell their products; their only concern was that production was too slow and they weren’t making money fast enough.

One particularly wealthy merchant, whose business spanned the globe, even placed an order large enough to secure twenty free vacuum packaging machines at once.

Since many attendees were in the food industry, they acted as buying agents for other products as well.

Jiang Xia prepared several flavors of tossed noodles for everyone to sample, including noodles with tomato sauce, seafood sauce, and meat sauce.

Because Jiang Xia had worked in the kitchens of both Chinese and Western restaurants in high-end hotels in her previous life, she was very familiar with international palates.

Under her simple preparation, the instant noodles, ham, and luncheon meat tasted completely different.

As a result, the food factory’s instant noodles also secured over a million dollars in orders.

Most of the seasonings and meat sauces Jiang Xia used for the noodles were purchased right there at the Canton Fair, though some came from the Friendship Store.

This, in turn, brought business to the sauce factories, fully demonstrating the spirit of mutual cooperation.

When the director of one sauce factory heard from foreign merchants that Jiang Xia had recommended them, he personally led a team to deliver several crates of seasonings and sauces to express his gratitude.

The sauce factory director watched as foreign merchants scrambled to place orders, each one spending a hundred thousand dollars at a time. He couldn’t help but say enviously, “Your plastic factory’s business is incredible!”

Just for some bags? These foreign merchants were being so extravagant?

A hundred thousand dollars’ worth of bags would probably fill an entire room, wouldn’t it?

Factory Director Feng waved his hand modestly. “It’s just alright. We’ve only sold about ten million dollars’ worth this afternoon! It’s still a far cry from the shipyard or the machine tool factory!”

Factory Director Feng rubbed his head, trying to suppress the urge to beam with pride!

Selling ten million dollars’ worth of plastic bags was absolutely unprecedented!

Factory Director Feng felt like he had achieved the impossible!

He was certain that for this Canton Fair, the “Advanced Worker” and “Pioneer Enterprise” awards would undoubtedly go to their factory!

The sauce factory director’s mouth twitched. A guy selling plastic was comparing himself to a shipyard and a machine tool factory? Why didn’t he just fly up to heaven?

Still, selling ten million dollars’ worth of plastic bags in a single afternoon…

The sauce factory director began to think that maybe these little plastic bags were more valuable than a ship; otherwise, how could they have sold ten million worth?

He hadn’t even made ten million selling seasonings all day.

Actually, forget ten million—he hadn’t even reached a hundred thousand!

The sauce factory director decided to stay and see what the secret to their success was.

He soon figured it out.

He estimated that most people were coming for the free vacuum machine, which is why the plastic bags were selling so well.

After all, a hundred-thousand-dollar order got you a free vacuum packaging machine.

And the consumption of bags in the food industry was quite high; even his own sauce factory needed plenty of bags and bottles for their sauce packets.

With such a high-tech machine worth a thousand yuan being given away for free, who wouldn’t rush to place an order?

He couldn’t help but praise, “The idea of your three factories teaming up for sales is simply brilliant!”

Hearing this, Jiang Xia gave Factory Director Feng a subtle look.

Chapter 303: A Rebellious Streak

Factory Director Feng was exceptionally sharp; Jiang Xia only had to give him a single look, and he understood immediately!

If packaging bags and vacuum packaging machines were a match made in heaven, then instant noodles and seasoning sauces were also a perfect pair.

Since Xiao Xia had worked so hard for their plastic factory, securing a ten-million-dollar order and smashing sales records, Factory Director Feng naturally had to return the favor.

He pulled the sauce factory director aside. “Lao Zhang, do you want to join our advanced little team and rake in some money together? If you want to get rich with us, let’s go sit in the back, have some tea, and discuss our grand plan for fortune.”

The sauce factory director’s heart stirred. “Let’s go!”

Factory Director Feng then shot a meaningful glance at Fang Aiyuan.

And so, the three directors went backstage to have tea.

Under Factory Director Feng’s silver tongue, Jiang Xia gained another part-time job: helping the sauce factory sell seasonings.

The sauce factory director and Fang Aiyuan also reached a cooperation agreement between their two companies.

Afterward, Factory Director Feng suggested they wait for Jiang Xia to finish her work before discussing the specific mechanics—for example, if a customer ordered a hundred cases of instant noodles, they would get a free case of a certain sauce.

The sauce factory director was puzzled. “Can’t we just decide on the mechanics ourselves and tell Comrade Xiao Xia how to execute it?”

Did they, as factory directors, really need to listen to a mere slip of a girl?

Factory Director Feng and Fang Aiyuan said in unison, “It’s better to ask for Xiao Xia’s opinion. She has a lot of ideas.”

The sauce factory director was speechless.

So, in this advanced little team that was raking in the money, that young translator was actually the backbone?

Factory Director Feng patted the sauce factory director’s shoulder. “Trust me! You won’t regret asking her! That girl is a regular Lucky Cat. With one wave of her hand, orders worth millions and tens of millions come flying in! It’s a pity she’s already married…”

The two directors looked at him with looks of disbelief upon hearing this.

Factory Director Feng glared. “What are you thinking? I just wanted Xiao Xia to be my daughter-in-law! One look at her and you can tell she’s the type who brings prosperity to her husband!”

These words truly spoke to Fang Aiyuan’s heart!

She was the one who wanted Jiang Xia as a daughter-in-law the most! She had always treated Jiang Xia like a daughter and half a daughter-in-law.

Unfortunately, her own mother-in-law was muddle-headed. She actually looked down on Jiang Xia for not getting into university, feeling that Jiang Xia wasn’t a university student and thus wasn’t good enough for Jing Xuan. She thought Jing Xuan was so superior just because he had gotten into Q University.

The grandmother always said that in the capital, there would be countless female university students with good family backgrounds and strong connections waiting for him to choose from. She told him to stay away from Jiang Xia, claiming Jiang Xia was an embarrassment.

It would have been one thing if she only said these things at home, but she said them outside as well. Her words always implied that Jiang Xia was trying to “climb the social ladder” by marrying her grandson. These rumors eventually reached the Jiang family, and not long after, Jiang Xia got engaged.

It was truly a pity!

Most importantly, her son didn’t seem to have let go yet; he had wanted to come over just a moment ago.

She didn’t even dare let Jing Xuan come near!

Soon, it reached the closing time for the exhibition hall. The plastic factory had secured a staggering $16 million in orders—an unprecedented feat.

The production schedule for these orders stretched all the way to the end of next year, completely exceeding the quota the city had set for the plastic factory.

And today was only the first day of the fair!

Factory Director Feng was so happy he kept rubbing his brilliant, balding head, as if rubbing it would make him even smarter.

One hundred and sixty vacuum machines were given away as promotions, and over five hundred and sixty were sold.

Almost every foreign businessman involved in food production placed an order. Many ordered several or even dozens of machines because they didn’t just have one factory; some had factories in several different countries, so they bought in bulk.

The instant noodles also sold 1.2 million units. Ham and luncheon meat were already high-volume products, and the two combined accounted for over 6 million in sales!

Today’s session of the Canton Fair ended successfully amidst a crowd of exhausted but smiling faces.

Factory Director Feng and the others invited Jiang Xia to dinner to talk business, but she apologetically declined, arranging to meet first thing tomorrow morning instead.

Jiang Xia hadn’t even had time to calculate how much money she had earned. As soon as things wrapped up, she and Zhou Chenglei hurriedly walked out of the exhibition hall, intending to catch a taxi back to the hotel for their appointment.

Just as they stepped out of the hall, Mother Jiang called out to her. “Xiaxia, Chenglei!”

The two turned around and saw Mother Jiang. They walked over. “Mom.”

Zhou Chenglei asked, “Mom, have you eaten yet? Do you want to join us?”

Mother Jiang smiled and shook her head, inquiring, “Are you having dinner with Jiang Dong?”

Zhou Chenglei replied, “With a few foreign friends. Jiang Dong is coming too. Why don’t you join us, Mom?”

“No, I have my own dinner plans. I won’t get mixed up with you young people.” Mother Jiang felt relieved knowing they weren’t dining with Old He. She then added, “Everyone is trying to catch a taxi right now, and foreigners don’t like it when people are late. You go flag down a car by the roadside. I want to have a quick word with Xiaxia.”

Zhou Chenglei understood that Mother Jiang wanted to pull him away. He glanced at Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia said, “Go ahead! We’re almost late.”

Zhou Chenglei nodded and said to Mother Jiang, “Mom, I’ll go catch a taxi then.”

Mother Jiang smiled. “Go on!”

As Zhou Chenglei walked a few paces away, he heard Jiang Xia ask, “Mom, how was business today?”

Mother Jiang watched her son-in-law walk away before replying, “It was so-so. About 70,000 to 80,000 for the day.”

“I’ll come help tomorrow. I thought of a way…”

“No need. You don’t need to worry about the factory’s affairs,” Mother Jiang refused outright.

Seeing her reaction, Jiang Xia didn’t mention it again.

Mother Jiang looked at Jiang Xia’s stomach. “Is there any news with your belly yet?”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “No.”

“How has it been this long without any movement? Is there something wrong with your body? I’ll take you to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow. Suicheng has famous large hospitals.”

“No, my health is fine. Chenglei took me to the hospital for a check-up before.”

Zhou Chenglei, standing by the roadside, couldn’t help but look back and saw Mother Jiang staring at Jiang Xia’s stomach.

Mother Jiang continued, “If there’s no problem, why hasn’t there been any movement after several months of marriage? Are you too tired? If a person is too exhausted, it’s hard for the body to conceive. Stop this translator job! Hurry home with A-Lei and get some rest. Take care of your body and have a child. A-Lei isn’t young anymore; people his age already have children in elementary school.”

Jiang Xia was a bit tired and didn’t want to hear this, but she didn’t argue. She simply said, “Children are a matter of fate. When the time is right, it will happen. Besides, we have our own plans. You don’t need to worry, Mom.”

Upon hearing this, Mother Jiang’s temper flared. “What do you mean by ‘plans’? You don’t intend to have children? Are you planning to go work in the capital? Did Old He ask you to go work there?”

Jiang Xia looked at her in surprise. “No, who did you hear that from? Old He didn’t ask me to work in the capital, and I have no intention of going there to work. Why would I do that? As for the child, we’ve only been married a short while. There’s no rush. It won’t be too late in another year or two.”

Hearing that she didn’t want to go to the capital, Mother Jiang’s expression softened slightly. She always felt that Jiang Xia’s heart was too wild and that only a child could tether her. She said, “What do you mean ‘no rush’? In two years, A-Lei will be thirty. Besides, your parents-in-law are still young right now, and your father and I are still young and have the strength to help you look after the child. In another two years, we’ll all be old. Who will have the strength then? Listen to me, it’s better to have one early. Elders always hope to hold their grandchildren early.”

Jiang Xia simply nodded. “I know, but children depend on fate. The more anxious you are, the harder it is to conceive. So Mom, don’t pressure me. It makes me nervous, which makes it even harder! Don’t let it reach a point where I can’t have a child and I end up with depression instead. I suspect the reason I haven’t conceived yet is because you’ve pressured me too much!”

Mother Jiang was silenced. “…”

This brat was rebellious to the core and never listened to advice!

Chapter 304: Scared Away

With Jiang Xia putting it that way, what else could Mother Jiang say?

She was afraid that if she said one more word, this brat would blame her for not being able to conceive, claiming she was under too much pressure.

“Fine, if you don’t like listening, I won’t say it anymore. Everyone’s grown up now, their wings have hardened, and no one listens! You’ve seen the Canton Fair, and you’ve made your money, so hurry home! Isn’t the house still under construction? How can it be okay with only the elderly at home? Look at you—you’re so exhausted today your face is pale. Stop working so hard; if you collapse from exhaustion, your father’s heart will break!”

Jiang Xia felt a bit helpless. She didn’t know if it was because she had been an orphan in her previous life and wasn’t used to this kind of parental discipline, but she felt Mother Jiang was overstepping. “Mom, A-Lei and I ordered boats from the shipyard, and we still owe them over a million yuan. No matter how tired we are, we have to work hard to earn money. Everything at home has been arranged, so don’t worry.”

This was the truth. The two boats they had ordered earlier totaled over a million yuan.

They had only just paid another installment of the deposit. Director Zhou was a good man and hadn’t pressured them, but as a couple, they had to work hard to pay off the deposit as soon as possible.

Otherwise, if you had the money to buy welfare housing from the shipyard but couldn’t pay your deposit, how would that look?

When Mother Jiang heard they owed the shipyard over a million yuan, her vision went black!

They were simply too bold!

Exactly how big were the fishing boats they ordered, and how many did they get, to owe over a million?

To order boats worth over a million, the deposit alone must be hundreds of thousands, right?

Where did they get that kind of money?

“You couldn’t have… You better not do anything that would bring shame to your father!”

Mother Jiang was both angry and terrified this time, her body trembling slightly.

Jiang Xia was speechless. “Am I that kind of person? Even if I’m not sensible, would A-Lei do something like that? We only ordered the boats; it’s not like the shipyard is giving them to us for free. If we can’t pay the deposit on time, the shipyard won’t give us the boats. That’s why we have to work hard to earn money now. Otherwise, do you think I wouldn’t want to just lie around at home every day?”

Thinking of Zhou Chenglei’s character, Mother Jiang felt a bit more at ease, but she still couldn’t help but warn her, “It better be that way! Don’t you dare covet advantages you shouldn’t have! Your father has lived his whole life with integrity; don’t let him lose his reputation in his old age!”

She no longer had the heart to worry about whether Jiang Xia was going home or not!

This brat had thrown one shock after another at her until she felt like she was heading for a heart attack!

Over a million yuan—they were crazy! Even if she and Old Jiang sold everything, they couldn’t fill that hole!

One should only wear a hat that fits their head. Why would anyone let them order boats without the money upfront?

The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became!

She had to go and call Old Jiang to tell him about this.

Jiang Xia’s audacity was all because Old Jiang indulged her!

He had given her whatever she wanted since she was a child, spoiling her until she was utterly lawless!

As for Zhou Chenglei, she could see it too—he listened to Jiang Xia.

Just now, when she told Zhou Chenglei to go get a taxi, he even had to glance at Jiang Xia first!

So, these boats were definitely ordered because Jiang Xia wanted them.

It was enough to scare someone to death!

Boats worth over a million—how did they dare to order them?

They had stepped into such a massive mess!

It was truly maddening!

She was furious!

What ability did they have to earn over a million?

Even her garment factory couldn’t earn over a million in a year!

This might be a trap; perhaps someone was trying to use Jiang Xia to target Old Jiang.

Old Jiang was at a critical stage in his career, too.

Only after Jiang Xia successfully scared Mother Jiang away did she walk over to Zhou Chenglei.

As soon as Zhou Chenglei saw Mother Jiang leave, he walked toward Jiang Xia.

Reaching her first, he took her hand and led her toward the roadside. “Don’t worry about what Mom said. We’ll just live our lives our way.”

He guessed that Mother Jiang was probably nagging them about having children.

Actually, those things weren’t reliable; they always broke. All the ones from before had been ruined, yet Jiang Xia still hadn’t conceived. He figured it was just because fate hadn’t arrived yet.

Zhou Chenglei knew that both sets of parents hoped Jiang Xia would have a child soon, largely because of the age gap between him and Jiang Xia.

It seemed he would have to find time to talk to both sets of parents to prevent them from putting pressure on Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia nodded, completely unaffected. “I know.”

She wasn’t the one who had been scared off; her mind was quite peaceful.

She hadn’t done anything wrong, so she wouldn’t worry herself over someone else’s errors.

As for children, she would let nature take its course. Since they had a marital life, even with precautions, accidents could happen.

This was normal; Jiang Xia wasn’t the type to demand everything go exactly her way.

She liked to act according to a plan, but she was also mentally prepared for unexpected situations.

No plan in life is ever guaranteed to be followed step-by-step.

The vibrancy of life is made up of those unexpected events.

In any case, she would plan her actions but calmly accept any surprises.

She couldn’t understand why Mother Jiang lived with so much anxiety. Jiang Xia couldn’t figure out what she was so anxious about!

Could it be that she was also reborn? But that didn’t make sense. If Mother Jiang were reborn, why wouldn’t she have stopped Ye Xian and Jiang Dong from getting together?

“The car is here.” Zhou Chenglei reached out and hailed a taxi.

Jiang Xia stopped thinking about it.

Zhou Chenglei shielded Jiang Xia as they got into the car to return to the hotel for their appointment.

Dinner was served at the Western restaurant in the Baiyun Hotel. Jiang Dong and Zhang Fuyan were also present.

After everyone was introduced, Gilles specifically said to his two friends, “Xia and Zhou are my friends here in China. His family has fishing boats. Last time we went out to sea fishing in China, we were on their boat. If you want to order seafood, you can ask them. They are very professional.”

Gilles was clearly trying to introduce potential clients to the couple because their family was in the fishing business.

However, Gilles really overestimated them. How could the catch from their family’s small boats be enough for export?

Jiang Xia instead recommended the seafood import and export company they had encountered when selling fish before.

“We sold our family’s fish to that seafood company last time. They are also participating in the Canton Fair. I’ll take you there tomorrow to see if they’re a good fit for you.”

The two men expressed their thanks. Actually, they had already looked at many seafood companies today and signed contracts, but since Gilles had introduced them, they agreed to take a look. If it was suitable, they could expand their cooperation.

Their circle was like this; they shared resources to maintain relationships and ensure everyone could make money suited to their needs. After all, no one person could take all the profit in the world.

Gilles then asked Jiang Xia, “Xia, where are the good places to visit in Suicheng? Aimée is coming in a few days; she said she wants to go sightseeing.”

Gilles used the Chinese phrase for “touring mountains and rivers”; he had been learning the language recently.

When it came to sightseeing, Jiang Xia knew of a very famous mountain in Suicheng. “Has Aimée ever been to Cloud Mountain?”

Gilles shook his head. “She’s only been to China once, and that was the last time when she just went out fishing with all of you.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xia said, “When is Aimée coming? I’ll take her to visit Cloud Mountain.”

Even though she had to work as a translator, taking a day or two out to show them around was necessary.

You can’t earn every cent in the world; when someone shows you kindness, you should at least return the favor.

After dinner, the four of them returned to their rooms, only to find someone waiting outside the door.

Chapter 305: Brother-in-Law Is No Help

Standing outside the door was a young man with single eyelids. He was about the same height as Jiang Dong, with features typical of a Southerner—not particularly deep-set, but sunny and handsome in a way that felt very approachable.

He held a thermal flask and smiled warmly at them when he saw them.

Jiang Xia looked at the person standing outside, feeling confused.

Who is this?

He looked a bit familiar.

Zhang Fuyan’s eyes lit up when she saw him, and she stepped forward with a smile to greet him. “Brother Kunjie, what are you doing here?”

Lu Kunjie raised the thermal flask and said with a gentle smile, “My family made some soup. My mother knows you love it, so she asked me to bring some over. It’s your favorite mutton soup.”

Lu Kunjie was a native of Suicheng, and people from Suicheng were very fond of their soups.

Zhang Fuyan had lived in Suicheng for a period during her childhood, so she enjoyed it as well. She smiled and said, “Please thank Auntie Yang for me.”

Then, Zhang Fuyan introduced everyone to each other. “Brother Kunjie, this is my good friend Jiang Xia, this is her husband Zhou Chenlei, and this is her younger brother Jiang Dong. And this is Lu Kunjie; we’ve known each other since we were kids and grew up together.”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Hello!”

Both Zhou Chenlei and Jiang Dong echoed, “Hello.”

Lu Kunjie glanced at Jiang Dong, who was standing beside Zhang Fuyan, and nodded with a smile. “Hello, everyone!”

After the greetings, Jiang Xia said, “Xiao Yan, you go ahead and look after your friend. We’re heading back to our rooms.”

Zhang Fuyan smiled. “Alright.”

Zhou Chenlei opened their door and went inside with Jiang Xia.

Zhang Fuyan opened her own door, and Lu Kunjie followed her into the room, closing the door behind them.

Jiang Dong was the slowest to open his door. He watched as Zhang Fuyan led the man into her room and even shut the door, leaving him stunned.

If he’s just delivering soup, shouldn’t he just hand the flask to Sister Xiao Yan at the door? Why did he have to go inside?

After Jiang Dong entered his room, his curiosity couldn’t help but flare up: So, is this the person Sister Xiao Yan likes?

The guy wasn’t as good-looking as him or his brother-in-law.

He wasn’t as tall as him or his brother-in-law, either.

Standing next to Sister Xiao Yan, they didn’t exactly look like a “perfect match” at all.

…

Jiang Dong opened the floodgates of his curiosity once again, lost in his own rich inner world.

In the other room, Jiang Xia asked Zhou Chenlei, “Does Xiao Yan’s friend look familiar to you?”

Zhou Chenlei took a guess. “He’s likely the son of that female director who demanded an apology from you today.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xia had an epiphany. “No wonder he looked familiar. There is a resemblance, but his mother’s expression is way too stern, so I didn’t make the connection immediately. Did you notice the way he looked at Xiao Yan? It seemed a bit… different.”

“Mm.” Zhou Chenlei had naturally noticed it as well.

Not only had he noticed that, but he had also guessed the reason why Director Yang had targeted Jiang Xia for no reason that afternoon.

She probably saw Zhang Fuyan and Jiang Dong getting close and was afraid her future daughter-in-law would be snatched away.

Jiang Xia guessed the same thing. “Do you think she targeted me this afternoon because of Jiang Dong?”

“Most likely.” Zhou Chenlei placed his hands on Jiang Xia’s shoulders and guided her to sit on the edge of the bed. “Let me see your feet.”

Jiang Xia took the opportunity to lie back directly on the quilt. She had been standing all day and was exhausted; the soles of her feet were aching.

Zhou Chenlei knelt down and helped Jiang Xia take off her high heels. Her heels were red and slightly chafed, though they weren’t bleeding.

“Go take a shower. I’ll find your clothes for you. After you’re done, I’ll put some medicine on for you.”

Zhou Chenlei stood up to look for her clothes.

Jiang Xia stayed lying down, unmoving. “It’s just a bit of chafed skin. Do I really need medicine?”

Zhou Chenlei didn’t answer. Once he found her clothes, he came over to pull her up. “Shower first. Afterward, I’ll give your legs a massage so you can sleep more comfortably.”

He reached out to pull her up.

“I don’t want to move yet. You go first! I’ll just lie here for a bit.” Once Jiang Xia was down, she didn’t want to budge.

Zhou Chenlei simply picked her up in a princess carry.

“What are you doing?”

“A hot bath will ease the fatigue and help you sleep better,” Zhou Chenlei replied.

Since she was too tired to move, he would just help her.

“Fine!” Since she was already in his arms, she might as well shower before sleeping.

A while later, Jiang Xia’s voice drifted from the bathroom. “No need, you go out. I can do it myself.”

Half an hour later, Jiang Xia was carried out, her face as red as a ripe apple.

She immediately dove under the covers.

Zhou Chenlei’s clothes were damp, so he quickly went back in for a cold shower. By the time he came back out, Jiang Xia was already fast asleep.

He returned to the bed and meticulously massaged her feet before applying some medicine to the chafed spots. Only after finishing all this did he slip under the covers, pull her into his arms, and fall into a peaceful sleep.

In the other room, Jiang Dong glanced at his watch. It had been half an hour!

The sound of the door opening hadn’t come from next door yet.

How long does it take to deliver soup?

Even if he was waiting for Sister Xiao Yan to finish so he could take the thermal flask back, it shouldn’t take this long, right?

Thinking of something, Jiang Dong rummaged through his luggage for some wound medicine. He then opened his door and walked over to the room next door. Just as he raised his hand to knock, the door opened.

He quickly pulled his hand back.

Lu Kunjie was surprised to see Jiang Dong there the moment he opened the door.

Zhang Fuyan, who was seeing Lu Kunjie out, saw Jiang Dong and asked, “Is something wrong?”

Jiang Dong handed some medicine to Zhang Fuyan. “I saw that your heels were injured. This medicine is very effective; you should apply some.”

Zhang Fuyan’s feet really did hurt, so she took it. “Thank you.”

Hearing this, Lu Kunjie looked at Zhang Fuyan’s feet. “You’re injured? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“It’s nothing. They’re just new shoes, and I’m not used to them yet.” She then added, “It’s dark out, you should head back early. Be careful riding your bike.”

Lu Kunjie could only nod. “See you tomorrow. I’ll bring you breakfast.”

“Don’t go to the trouble. I’ll just buy something myself. See you tomorrow.”

Lu Kunjie nodded to Jiang Dong and left.

Zhang Fuyan said to Jiang Dong, who was still standing there like a statue, “You should get to sleep early too. Goodnight.”

Jiang Dong nodded. “Goodnight.”

Zhang Fuyan immediately shut the door.

She was exhausted. All she wanted was to shower and sleep.

She had to be up at six o’clock tomorrow morning for a meeting.

Jiang Dong also went back to his room, closed the door, showered, and went to bed.

The next day.

Jiang Xia woke up feeling refreshed. Zhou Chenlei was no longer by her side.

A note was left on the table, with text written in a bold and fluid hand: Gone for a morning run.

Jiang Xia tucked the note away and went to brush her teeth and wash her face.

Just as she finished washing up and changing, Zhou Chenlei returned.

He took a quick shower, and the two of them went next door to call Jiang Dong for breakfast.

They knew Zhang Fuyan had a meeting at half-past six, so they didn’t expect her to join them.

Jiang Dong still brought a lunch box, carrying a portion of her favorite congee and char siu bao for her.

After finishing their breakfast, the three of them took a taxi to the exhibition venue. It was already seven-fifty.

Today was Zhang Fuyan’s turn to be on duty outside.

Jiang Dong was just about to walk over and give the breakfast to Zhang Fuyan.

At that moment, Lu Kunjie arrived beside her on his bicycle. He smiled and handed her two thermal flasks. “My grandmother made century egg and pork congee and savory pancakes. They’re your favorites.”

Zhang Fuyan had already eaten, but she took them with a smile anyway.

Zhou Chenlei patted Jiang Dong on the shoulder. “That’s perfect. Now we don’t have to buy lunch for you.”

Jiang Dong: “…”

Jiang Xia took the bag from him with a smile. “I’ll go ask Xiao Yan if she wants any. You two go on inside. I’ll stay out here with Xiao Yan and wait for Gilles and his team.”

Jiang Dong thought to himself: My sister is definitely the best! Brother-in-law is no help at all!

The two men headed inside the exhibition hall.

Jiang Xia started walking toward Zhang Fuyan but was suddenly called out to. “Comrade Jiang Xia!”

Coming up~

Chapter 306: She Certainly Has an Eye for Quality

Jiang Xia turned around.

The person calling out to her was Yang Qiuying.

Jiang Xia didn’t say anything, waiting for her to speak.

Yang Qiuying had noticed that Jiang Xia intended to bring Zhang Fuyan breakfast, so she called her over to prevent her from interfering with her son’s time with Fuyan.

Zhang Fuyan was the daughter-in-law she had her heart set on. She came from a good family, was a top student at Jingda, and was beautiful. Any children she had in the future were bound to be good-looking. Moreover, she had a pleasant temperament and had already secured an internship certificate with the Bureau of Foreign Translation before even graduating. She had a bright career and limitless potential ahead of her.

She was, in every sense, the ideal candidate for a daughter-in-law.

Yang Qiuying would not allow anyone to ruin this.

She had learned the whole story from Ye Xian the previous night—Zhang Fuyan and Jiang Dong didn’t even know each other originally; Fuyan was friends with Jiang Xia.

The reason Zhang Fuyan and Jiang Dong had become close was entirely due to Jiang Xia’s deliberate matchmaking. Jiang Xia had even gone as far as to scheme and cause Jiang Dong and Ye Xian to break up.

One could say Jiang Xia had been painstakingly calculating, clearing every obstacle just to make Zhang Fuyan her sister-in-law!

She certainly had an eye for quality!

Yang Qiuying looked Jiang Xia up and down. She really couldn’t tell the girl was so calculating just by looking at her. However, considering she herself had been slighted by Jiang Xia yesterday, she knew she had to be careful. She smiled and said, “I noticed yesterday that your English is quite good. As it happens, one of our staff members is feeling unwell this morning. Could I trouble you to go to the negotiation center and help out as a translator?”

Normally, this would have been a fine request, as the negotiation center allowed one to meet all sorts of clients. However, Jiang Xia had already arranged to meet Gilles and his group at the South Gate, so she declined. “I’m sorry, I’ve already arranged to meet some foreign friends at this entrance. I can only help out here; otherwise, they won’t be able to find me when they arrive.”

After speaking, Jiang Xia ignored her and walked toward Zhang Fuyan.

Seeing that her son had already ridden off on his bicycle and that Zhang Fuyan had accepted the insulated container he brought, Yang Qiuying stopped worrying about Jiang Xia.

She had only been afraid that Jiang Xia would interrupt her son’s delivery and disrupt the two of them as they cultivated their feelings for each other.

Her only hope now was that the two of them would develop some chemistry during the Canton Fair. Once it ended, she would ask Zhang Fuyan’s aunt to speak with Fuyan’s parents to see if they could finalize an engagement.

Originally, she had wanted to wait until both had graduated from university before bringing this up. She hadn’t expected someone like Jiang Dong to appear out of nowhere. If it hadn’t been for this Canton Fair, she never would have known.

Luckily, she had discovered it early!

Jiang Xia reached Zhang Fuyan’s side and looked at the insulated container in her hand. “Have you eaten breakfast? If not, I can stand in for you here for a bit while you go eat.”

Jiang Xia didn’t give her the lunch box she was carrying, seeing that Fuyan already had one.

Zhang Fuyan replied, “I’ve eaten, but it was hard to refuse such kind hospitality.”

Jiang Xia smiled and didn’t pry further.

The delivery of soup and now breakfast made the intentions very clear; there was no need to ask.

A girl as wonderful as Zhang Fuyan would naturally have suitors; it was perfectly normal.

Zhang Fuyan glanced at the food container in Jiang Xia’s hand. “You haven’t eaten yet? I have congee here. Do you want some? Brother Kunjie’s grandmother made it.”

“I ate at the hotel. I just brought this for you in case you hadn’t eaten. If you’ve already had breakfast, then never mind. You can save it for later when you’re hungry.”

Zhang Fuyan sniffed the air. “What did you bring?”

“Char siu bao and beef congee.”

Zhang Fuyan paused. Yesterday, she had wanted to eat char siu bao, but they had run out. At the time, neither Jiang Xia nor Zhou Chenglei were around; she had only mentioned it in front of Jiang Dong.

Jiang Dong had told her to go down to the restaurant earlier the next morning.

Then she had mentioned she had a meeting the next day.

Jiang Dong had simply said he would buy them for her.

So, these char siu bao were prepared by Jiang Dong?

Zhang Fuyan said, “I wanted to eat these yesterday, but they were all gone. Let me try one. I heard the hotel’s char siu bao are delicious.”

Jiang Xia really didn’t know she had wanted them yesterday. “Jiang Dong ordered them.”

Zhang Fuyan took the food and handed her armband to Jiang Xia. “Cover for me for a minute. I’ll take these to the back to share with everyone. Some of the students woke up late and didn’t have time to eat breakfast.”

Jiang Xia agreed.

Zhang Fuyan headed off with breakfast in both hands.

There were still a few minutes before the 8:00 AM start time, so she walked quite briskly.

After Yang Qiuying finished organizing the work, she returned to the back office and saw everyone eating the congee from her house, while Zhang Fuyan was eating a bun.

Zhang Fuyan smiled and said, “Thank you for the congee, Auntie Yang. They hadn’t eaten breakfast, so I shared it with everyone.”

Hearing this, the others began praising how delicious the congee was.

Yang Qiuying looked at the food container in front of Zhang Fuyan and the bun in her hand.

They weren’t from her house at all!

She forced a smile. “Is that so? If it’s good, eat quickly. It’s almost eight.”

Zhang Fuyan stuffed the rest of the bun into her mouth and packed away the food containers. “Thank you for the congee, Auntie Yang. It really is too much trouble for you. You really don’t need to bring anything else in the future. See? I have someone helping me get breakfast every day.”

Zhang Fuyan was an incredibly smart and perceptive person.

After talking with Lu Kunjie for a while last night, she had sensed what was going on.

Today, she used the breakfast Jiang Xia brought as a chance to tactfully express her stance.

She didn’t feel that way about Lu Kunjie, so it wasn’t right to continue accepting their kindness.

Even though they had known each other since childhood, they hadn’t seen each other in years. She only viewed Lu Kunjie as an older brother from the neighborhood and a childhood playmate.

Yang Qiuying understood Zhang Fuyan’s meaning as well and smiled. “Alright then. As long as you’re being looked after. Your aunt did ask me to take good care of you, after all!”

“There’s really no need. I’m an adult and can look after myself. Besides, I shouldn’t be getting special treatment. I’ll head out now!”

“Alright.”

Zhang Fuyan walked back out to continue her work.

Regarding the incident with the exploding thermos yesterday afternoon, Zhang Fuyan had only heard people discussing it when she returned this morning.

She felt that Director Yang hadn’t truly misunderstood the situation and nearly blamed Jiang Xia out of ignorance; it was likely intentional.

After all, she had just seen her stop Jiang Xia from a distance to keep her from approaching.

People have their preferences and biases. Fuyan now felt closer to Jiang Xia and her family, and consequently, felt less inclined to be close to the Lus.

Not long after Zhang Fuyan returned to Jiang Xia’s side, Gilles and his group arrived.

Jiang Xia led them toward the seafood company’s booth.

Section Chief Yang happened to be at the booth today.

He had just come ashore the previous night and was taking two days off. Having nothing better to do, he had come to see how the Canton Fair was going and to lend a hand.

Jiang Xia greeted him with a smile, “Section Chief Yang.”

Section Chief Yang turned around and smiled. “Comrade Jiang Xia, do you have more good goods for us?”

Jiang Xia chuckled. “No goods, but I have two foreign friends who want to order seafood from our country. I brought them here to have a look.”

Section Chief Yang hurriedly waved over a translator. Jiang Xia introduced everyone to each other first.

Section Chief Yang was extremely surprised. He hadn’t expected Jiang Xia’s English to be so fluent.

Since the seafood company had a translator, and Gilles and the others knew Jiang Xia had her own duties, they told her to go ahead and attend to her work.

Jiang Xia left after the introductions. On her way out, she passed a booth selling pearls.

Even early in the morning, several foreign merchants were there. The staff members were conscientiously introducing the products, and a translator was providing detailed explanations.

These were all cultured pearls. Jiang Xia was curious to learn more, so she stopped to listen.

One foreign merchant was in the middle of signing a contract with a staff member. Driven by a tight schedule, he urged the worker to hurry up, yet he kept picking up pearl after pearl, asking the worker questions in Chinese about this and that. After the worker explained a few points, he would urge her again to finish writing the contract.

Finally, the staff member finished filling out the contract. The merchant signed his name and pressured the worker to stamp and sign it immediately.

Just as the employee from the pearl farm was about to press the seal down, Jiang Xia took one look and quickly called out to the staff member, “Wait!”

Chapter 307: Why is This Girl So Capable?

The staff member looked at Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia pointed to the number on the order. “Is the price wrong? Is it really this cheap? If so, I’ll buy some too.”

The director of the pearl cultivation farm hurriedly took a look and discovered that a zero was missing from the price!

The staff member filling out the contract also counted the digits, and a cold sweat broke out all over her body.

Just as she was writing down the amount earlier, she had been bombarded by both the foreign businessman and the translator; she hadn’t noticed she had made a mistake.

If she had signed and sealed a contract for ten thousand instead of a hundred thousand, she wouldn’t be able to pay it back even if she sold herself.

She hurriedly added a zero and said to the foreigner, “I’m sorry, I accidentally filled in the wrong price just now. We agreed on this price earlier; please take a look and see if there are any issues?”

Without even looking at the contract, the foreign businessman snapped, “You’re far too careless. I’m not buying anymore!”

Then he turned and left.

The staff member said to Jiang Xia, “I knew he was doing that on purpose! Thank you so much, comrade!”

Director Huang of the pearl cultivation farm picked up a strand of pearl bracelets and handed it to Jiang Xia. “Comrade, thank you for preventing a major loss for our factory. This is a small token of our appreciation, please accept it.”

Jiang Xia waved her hand. “My family also does aquaculture, so I know how hard it is for farmers. Losing a hundred thousand dollars—who knows how long it would take to earn that back through farming pearls? There’s no need to be so polite.”

Director Huang took her words to heart. “Exactly! It takes at least three years to harvest a single pearl. If that contract had been signed, these past three years would have been for nothing! Please, take it! I’m truly grateful to you!”

“It’s really not necessary. It was just a few words, anyone who noticed would have reminded you.”

Director Huang only let it go when he saw she truly refused to accept the gift. “So your family also raises aquatic products? Are you also here for the Canton Fair? Which booth? What does your farm raise? I thought you were one of those volunteer translators.”

Jiang Xia had a great temperament; she looked like an intellectual at first glance. He hadn’t expected her to be in aquaculture as well.

With her delicate, fair skin, she didn’t look at all like someone who had been weathered by sea breezes and scorched by the blazing sun!

Jiang Xia smiled. “I’m here to work as a translator. My family does raise pearl shells, but we don’t have the scale of your factory yet and aren’t qualified to participate in the Canton Fair.”

Director Huang believed her. This was normal; booths at the Canton Fair were limited, and not every factory was qualified to participate.

Jiang Xia picked up a pearl and began chatting with Director Huang about their experiences in pearl farming. She spoke about how difficult it was to hatch and breed pearl shells in the beginning, how low the success rate was for cultivating larvae into pearl shells, and the survival rate of the pearl shells after the nuclei were inserted.

In an era without the internet and where information was restricted, very few people knew that pearls started as larvae. Not everyone knew that one had to insert nuclei into the pearl shells for them to produce pearls, either.

By speaking this way, Jiang Xia proved that she truly understood how pearls were raised.

Furthermore, her mention of the initial difficulties truly struck a chord with Director Huang, who began to share his own grievances!

He talked about how he had to go everywhere in the wild sea to collect juvenile pearl shells when they first started farming, nearly drowning in the process.

He mentioned how the pearl shells would all die if the nucleus insertion failed.

He also talked about how they had encountered typhoons several times, and all the pearl shells were nearly wiped out.

…

Jiang Xia listened patiently as he finished, offering a word or two every now and then. Eventually, she drifted the topic toward the hanging nets her family used for the pearl shells.

“Ever since my family started using that kind of hanging net, as long as it’s fixed properly, we aren’t as afraid of typhoons anymore…”

“Later, after we used the larva attachment device, the birth rate of the pearl shells also greatly increased. A single device can attach at least a dozen larvae. Our hard work finally paid off!”

Director Huang’s eyes widened as he listened. “What kind of device has such a high attachment rate? Where can I buy it? Is it imported?”

Jiang Xia replied, “It’s a type of pearl shell larva attachment net sheet my husband came up with. I can’t explain it clearly with words, so let me draw it for you! Once you see it, you’ll know. It’s really useful. You can take the blueprint and find someone to try and make it to see for yourself.”

Director Huang felt a bit embarrassed upon hearing this. “How could I possibly accept that?”

Jiang Xia said, “It’s fine. We are both pearl farmers; we’re just exchanging experiences. I hope our country’s pearl cultivation industry can flourish as soon as possible.”

Jiang Xia had paper and a pen in her bag. She took them out and directly drew the hanging net and the pearl larva attachment device.

As she drew, Jiang Xia explained, “When the larvae are released from within the pearl shell, a large number of them are washed away by the seawater. As the seawater flows through these attachment devices, those larvae will attach themselves to these net sheets…”

Anyone who understood the trade would get it immediately! Director Huang praised, “Wonderful! This thing is truly excellent!”

Jiang Xia thought to herself: Of course it’s good. This was an attachment device qualified for a patent, and she had already asked Jiang Dong to help apply for one.

She smiled and said, “We’ve tested it, and it really is useful for collecting pearl shell larvae. Director, you should find someone to make it and give it a try!”

“The hanging nets are also useful, but remember to check and clean off the grime attached to them every month to prevent worms from interfering with the growth rate of the pearl shells.”

…

Jiang Xia and Director Huang chatted for an entire morning, only finishing near lunchtime.

The two of them had shared almost everything they knew without reservation!

Jiang Xia even told him how the color of the pearls was determined.

Director Huang had gained a pearl shell larva attachment device and a hanging net; in the future, the production of juvenile shells would increase significantly, and he could even try to raise pearls according to the required colors.

Jiang Xia had finally cleared up all the points she didn’t understand about pearl shell cultivation! Furthermore, Director Huang promised her that after the peak breeding period of the pearl shells next year, he would send her two thousand juvenile shells. He originally intended to send five thousand, but Jiang Xia felt bad taking that many.

Both of them got what they wanted.

Director Huang saw Jiang Xia off with lingering enthusiasm, inviting her to visit their factory’s pearl cultivation farm after the Canton Fair ended to “give some guidance on their work.”

The phrase “give some guidance” really made Jiang Xia feel embarrassed, but she shamelessly accepted.

There was no helping it; hearing about it a thousand times wasn’t as good as actually seeing it for herself!

When Jiang Xia left, Director Huang insisted on stuffing a pearl necklace into her hands.

He felt quite bashful after gaining so much farming technology from her for free!

It wasn’t until much later, when Director Huang went to visit Jiang Xia’s pearl cultivation farm, that he realized Jiang Xia didn’t even have a pearl cultivation farm at this time!!!

This clever girl had played him with a few pieces of technology!

However, he had also made a huge profit! His scale expanded, and his production increased!

Director Huang waved toward Jiang Xia. “Xiao Xia, remember to tell your Uncle Huang when you’re free so we can have a meal together! Don’t lose the phone number I gave you! If you run into any problems, you can call me. Just call me ahead of time when you want to visit our farm.”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Alright!”

Director Huang was too enthusiastic; he had left her both his home and factory phone numbers.

Zhou Chenglei had already searched the entire venue, looking through the textile factory, food factory, and plastic factory exhibition halls before finally finding her in the aquatic products section.

From a distance, Zhou Chenglei saw a middle-aged man waving goodbye to Jiang Xia with great reluctance.

Jiang Xia saw Zhou Chenglei too and hurried to his side.

Zhou Chenglei looked at the smile on her face. “Found another part-time job?”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “No, I found a magic treasure that makes money beget more money.”

Zhou Chenglei glanced into the distance. That booth was selling pearls, so he guessed what the “treasure” was.

How was this girl so capable?

Chapter 308: Isn’t This Just Sending Money to Jiang Xia?

After finishing their meal, Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei returned to the exhibition hall. Before they could even step inside, they were blocked at the entrance by the directors of the Plastic, Food, and Sauce factories: Feng, Peng, and Fang.

The moment the three saw Jiang Xia, they immediately swarmed her.

Peng Yuhua cried out, “Xiao Xia, there are so many more foreign businessmen looking at fabrics today! You have to come and help your Auntie Peng. I missed out on dozens of deals this morning, and it’s killing me! If you had been there, we definitely could have kept those clients.”

Director Feng interjected, “Director Peng, that’s not fair! The afternoon belongs to the Plastic Factory and the Food Factory. Xiao Xia, come on, let’s go to the Plastic Factory’s booth. Our four major plants—Plastic, Food, Sauce, and Machinery—are all waiting for you to take your position. You must come to our booth this afternoon!”

Fang Aiyuan nodded in agreement. “That’s right! Xiao Xia, the four of us factory directors have been waiting for you all morning!”

Peng Yuhua grabbed Jiang Xia’s arm. “I’ve been waiting for Xiao Xia for a day and a night! Xiao Xia, in this morning’s meeting, our Textile Factory received a special commendation! Because our transaction amount surpassed all other textile factories across various provinces and cities, we’ve become the national vanguard for textile plants! As they say, the capable must work harder. After the higher-ups praised us, they gave our Textile Factory an even heavier task. Our transaction target for this Canton Fair must reach fifteen million dollars. We only closed a few hundred thousand dollars this morning. We’re still ages away from fifteen million! So, you must help the Textile Factory first this afternoon. Otherwise, your Auntie Peng won’t have any peace of mind!”

Without Jiang Xia there, eight out of ten customers passing the booth would leave after just a glance. Even when they did buy, the transaction amounts were small—usually around twenty or thirty thousand dollars.

But yesterday morning, when Jiang Xia was present, nine out of ten customers would stop. And if they stopped to look, nine out of ten would close a deal, with amounts ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars!

It was nothing like the dismal performance of yesterday afternoon and this morning.

In truth, one could tell that Wen Wan had worked hard last night. This morning, she had memorized the characteristics of many fabrics and tried to explain them just as Jiang Xia had.

However, for some reason, she simply couldn’t attract the foreign businessmen. After listening to a few sentences of her introduction, they would move on.

The combined performance of yesterday afternoon and this morning only amounted to a hundred and seventy thousand dollars. Comparison truly was the thief of joy!

Jiang Xia had secured a single order for a hundred and seventy thousand yesterday.

This was why Peng Yuhua was literally standing guard at the door to haul Jiang Xia to the Textile Factory. She was determined to win the titles of Advanced Worker and Advanced Enterprise this time.

Director Feng countered, “What does your ten million count for? Our factory’s target has been raised too! The targets for all four of our factories have been increased by a total of forty million dollars! Your target can wait; it’s not urgent. Xiao Xia, you must come to the Plastic Factory first this afternoon! Otherwise, how will we complete a forty-million-dollar task? Come, follow your Uncle Feng. There are foreign businessmen waiting inside right now!”

“Xiao Xia, come with Auntie Peng! There will be even more foreigners looking at textiles this afternoon! There’s a delegation coming today specifically for textile products!” Peng Yuhua stepped forward, attempting to pull Jiang Xia away.

Director Feng and Fang Aiyuan weren’t about to be left behind and reached for Jiang Xia as well, but Zhou Chenglei blocked their path.

Jiang Xia quickly spoke up, “Wait! How about this? I’ll go to the Textile Factory booth this afternoon, and I’ll spend all of tomorrow at the Plastic Factory booth. Does that sound fair?”

Jiang Xia knew there was indeed a foreign delegation coming for textiles this afternoon; Xiao Yan had told her.

“Then, starting from the day after tomorrow, I’ll be at the Textile Factory in the mornings and the Plastic Factory in the afternoons. How’s that?”

Peng Yuhua agreed immediately. “Good! No problem with me!”

Director Feng protested, “No, there is a problem! We represent four factories. Four factories combined only get half a day, while the Textile Factory gets half a day all to itself. Xiao Xia, isn’t that a bit unfair?”

Fang Aiyuan added, “Exactly! Shouldn’t it be half a day for each factory to be fair?”

Peng Yuhua was fuming. “Have you no shame? Didn’t we say this was a ‘four birds with one stone’ deal?”

Director Feng and Fang Aiyuan spoke in unison: “Since it’s ‘four birds with one stone,’ the allocated time should be even longer! That way, we can generate more foreign exchange!”

Peng Yuhua: “…”

Seeing they were about to start bickering again, Jiang Xia hurriedly said, “Alright, stop arguing. I’ll just do whatever I want today, just like this morning! After all, I’m just a part-timer!”

The three directors shouted simultaneously, “That won’t do!”

At that moment, Old He approached with a group of people, asking with a chuckle, “What’s going on here?”

The three directors explained the situation from beginning to end.

After listening, Old He smiled and said, “Xiao Xia’s arrangement is proper. You four factories share half a day, and the Textile Factory gets half a day. This way, Comrade Xiao Xia can appear at all your booths to help every day. Isn’t that the best possible arrangement?”

Since Old He had spoken, Director Feng and Fang Aiyuan had no choice but to compromise. “Then we’ll do as Old He says!”

With the matter finally settled, Jiang Xia sent Zhou Chenglei back to the shipyard while she and Peng Yuhua headed to the Textile Factory booth.

Old He reminded the couple, “Be sure not to forget dinner tonight!”

Seeing the directors of three different factories fighting over a single person at the entrance showed just how capable Comrade Xiao Xia was.

Old He became even more determined to convince Jiang Xia to join the organization officially.

Jiang Xia smiled. “We won’t forget. We’ll get to work now!”

Old He nodded and waved them off. “Go on then!”

The group dispersed.

Yang Qiuying, standing behind Old He, couldn’t help but steal a glance at Jiang Xia.

She had to admit that both siblings were talented.

Jiang Dong was also very impressive; only a sophomore, yet he had developed a vacuum packaging machine and a sealing bag production line. She had seen them, and they were selling spectacularly well. They had even been singled out for praise during this morning’s meeting.

Furthermore, the volunteers from Jingda and Q University spent their free time talking about how brilliant Jiang Dong was.

Yang Qiuying was deeply worried that Zhang Fuyan would be charmed by the siblings, and she feared Zhang Fuyan’s parents might take a liking to Jiang Dong.

After all, when comparing her own son to Jiang Dong, her son seemed to fall short in every category except family background.

And to make matters worse, Jiang Dong’s family background wasn’t exactly poor either.

Yang Qiuying felt a spike of irritation: I hope Ye Xian handles Jiang Dong quickly!

Yang Qiuying decided to go to the guesthouse after work to ask Ye Xian when she planned to act.

Ye Xian had found her last night.

Yang Qiuying had arranged for Ye Xian to stay at a different guesthouse and work there as a translator so that Jiang Xia wouldn’t discover her.

Even if she were discovered, it wouldn’t matter much. There was a desperate shortage of translators right now; Yang Qiuying could simply claim she was letting Ye Xian make up for her past mistakes with service.

Old He then thought that since Jiang Xia could bundle the Food Factory, Plastic Factory, Sauce Factory, and Machinery Factory together to promote products, there were many other factories related to textiles as well.

He turned to Yang Qiuying behind him. “Director Yang, please contact the directors of the Sewing Machine Factory, the Yarn Factory, the Button Factory, the Accessories Factory, and the Garment Factory. Have them consult with Comrade Jiang Xia to see if they can coordinate with the Textile Factory to bundle their products. We need to increase the transaction amount for every factory.”

Yang Qiuying snapped back to reality and hurriedly replied, “…Oh, alright. As expected, Old He, you think of everything.”

Old He added one more thing as an afterthought. “By the way, find out how the Textile Factory is compensating Comrade Jiang Xia and ensure the other factories do the same. It seems Comrade Jiang Xia receives a commission for acting as a translator for those factories. She isn’t a volunteer, so if we increase her workload, we mustn’t forget her compensation. If the other factories aren’t willing to pay, you’ll have to calculate a separate salary for her from our end!”

Yang Qiuying: “…”

Isn’t this just asking me to hand money to Jiang Xia on a silver platter?

Chapter 309: Reduced to an Errand Girl

Old He continued his instructions, “Contact more manufacturers and strive for a new breakthrough in the total transaction amount at this Canton Fair. Notify everyone to see if this model is viable, and we’ll meet tomorrow to discuss it.”

“Yes, I’ll go and arrange it right away.”

Although Yang Qiuying was unhappy about giving Jiang Xia money, she still agreed with a smile.

Returning to her office in the exhibition hall, Yang Qiuying delegated the task Old He had assigned to her subordinates. She took any task given by the leadership very seriously, not daring to make even the slightest mistake.

Moreover, she was the one in charge of the Canton Fair. If the fair was a success and the transaction amount exceeded expectations, it would be beneficial for her as well. Therefore, she wasn’t foolish enough to sabotage Jiang Xia in this matter. She had no personal grudge against the girl, anyway.

“By the way, remember to ask Director Peng of Honghua Textile Factory or the director of the Rongfeng plastic factory how much they are paying Comrade Jiang Xia. Tell those manufacturers they must provide her with the same compensation. Comrade Jiang Xia is neither a volunteer nor a member of the fair staff; asking for her help with promotion requires payment.”

“Understood, I’ll see to it immediately.” The subordinate left to make the arrangements as soon as Yang Qiuying finished speaking.

Consequently, while Jiang Xia was introducing fabrics to several foreign businessmen at the Textile Factory’s booth, several factory directors arrived excitedly. They brought along clothes, bags of buttons, garment decorations, various types of yarn, and needles. One had even delivered a sewing machine.

They claimed that the leadership had arranged for her to help promote their products.

When Peng Yuhua saw so many manufacturers showing up and cluttering her booth, she was a bit displeased. However, since they mentioned it was arranged by the leadership—and she guessed it was Old He’s doing—she told them with a jovial, joking air, “Asking for Xiao Xia’s help requires a salary. Yesterday, I spent over three thousand yuan to hire Comrade Jiang Xia. You can’t let our Xiao Xia work for you for nothing! Shouldn’t you offer the same compensation?”

Peng Yuhua said this hoping to make them back off, using the high cost to scare them away. After all, if Jiang Xia spent her time translating for so many other factories, wouldn’t she have less time to sell Peng’s fabric?

However, since they were all acquaintances in the same industry attending the same fair, there were few secrets. Jiang Xia’s professional capability had long since become common knowledge. Furthermore, the staff had already informed them that they needed to pay her.

Everyone knew the reason Peng Yuhua had paid Jiang Xia over three thousand yuan in a single day wasn’t a flat daily wage; it was a commission on the transaction amount. Jiang Xia had helped the Textile Factory secure orders worth over three million US dollars.

If Jiang Xia could help their factories sign orders worth millions of dollars, they were more than willing to give her a 0.1% commission on the transaction amount!

The directors chimed in one after another, “Of course! Giving a commission is only right!”

“However Director Peng pays her, we will pay the same. Comrade Jiang Xia, what do you think?”

Jiang Xia noticed Peng Yuhua’s irritation and smiled. “That works for me. I’m working as a translator for several factories, and my fee is a 0.1% commission on the transaction amount rather than a fixed wage. However, the items you’ve brought have taken up nearly half of Director Peng’s booth. If you don’t mind, perhaps you could take some of her fabrics to your booths and help sell them there? Otherwise, I’d feel quite embarrassed promoting your products here in Director Peng’s space.”

No wonder she could help several factories land million-dollar orders at such a young age—she really knows how to handle people! Everyone agreed, saying, “Indeed! Xiao Xia has thought of everything! Director Peng, pick out some fabrics, and I’ll take them back to my booth to help you sell them!”

“Director Peng, give me some fabrics too. I’ll clear a spot specifically for my people to help promote them.”

Peng Yuhua suddenly felt she had been being narrow-minded. They were all working together to earn foreign exchange for the country; they should be united. She smiled and said, “It wouldn’t be right to take up your space and your labor for nothing. How about this? I’ll send someone over to your booths to handle the sales. My people are more familiar with the fabrics. Once they’ve packed everything up, they’ll head straight to your sections.”

“Fine, that works too!”

Once the agreement was reached, the factory directors departed.

Wen Wan watched as so many manufacturers came to seek Jiang Xia’s help, while their buttons, clothes, and other items were left at the Textile Factory booth. Jiang Xia wouldn’t be at the booth all day long. When Jiang Xia was away, wouldn’t she be the one stuck selling these things?

Was Jiang Xia going to get paid while she did the work for free?

Wen Wan felt she needed to advocate for her own interests, so she asked Peng Yuhua, “Director Peng, if Comrade Jiang Xia isn’t here, do I need to help sell these buttons and clothes?”

Peng Yuhua understood exactly what Wen Wan meant and said, “If you sell products from other factories, you’ll get a commission too.”

“Thank you, Director Peng! I will work hard!” Wen Wan smiled, satisfied.

“You should thank Xiao Xia; you’re just riding on her coattails. Also, don’t get so caught up in selling other factories’ products that you forget our fabrics. Coordinate well with Xiao Xia!”

“Yes, I will.” Wen Wan turned to Jiang Xia and added, “Thank you, Jiang Xia.”

“You’re welcome,” Jiang Xia replied before turning back to explain the fabrics to the foreign businessmen.

Peng Yuhua had her employees prepare some fabric samples to be sent to the other booths. Hearing this, Jiang Xia reminded her, “Director Peng, pick the fabrics that sell the best.”

A popular fabric was like a hit garment; it had to have a quality that caught the eye immediately.

“Right!” Peng Yuhua agreed and quickly directed her staff to gather several sets of their best-selling fabrics. Then, she busied herself directing the arrangement of the buttons and clothes sent by the other factories.

Wen Wan was very proactive in helping with the organization. She was counting on these products to make some good money!

Jiang Xia was currently explaining wool fabrics when she spotted a wool coat in Wen Wan’s hands. “Comrade Wen Wan, could you please hand me that coat?”

Wen Wan paused her movements.

Peng Yuhua glanced over and said, “Xiaxia, you have a sharp eye. That coat is made from our factory’s material. Xiao Wan, give it to Xiaxia quickly!”

Wen Wan handed the coat to Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia used the coat to explain the material to the foreign businessmen, then put the coat on herself to show them how it looked. Jiang Xia had a great figure and an elegant temperament. With the coat on and her hair swept up, her entire aura shifted.

The foreign businessmen placed orders one after another. They bought the wool fabric and they bought the coats.

Jiang Xia then glanced at the buttons that had been brought out. She pointed to a specific style and said, “Could you grab those buttons for me? I need ten of them.”

Peng Yuhua added, “Xiao Wan, help Xiaxia with that.”

Wen Wan suppressed her frustration and complied.

Is she treating me, a translator, like an errand girl?

Jiang Xia took the buttons and continued her explanation, “This coat would be even more beautiful if these buttons were used instead…”

As Jiang Xia spoke, she laid the new buttons against the coat for everyone to see. Consequently, many foreign businessmen ordered the buttons as well!

Peng Yuhua was full of admiration. “Xiao Wan, just assist Xiaxia. Whatever she needs, you hand it to her.”

Wen Wan: “…”

So, she, a translator, had been reduced to being Jiang Xia’s assistant?

Chapter 310: I Want to Vomit

Yang Qiuying got her wish; Jiang Xia was truly busy that entire afternoon.

By the time the exhibition hall closed and all the foreign merchants had left, Zhou Chenglei arrived to pick up Jiang Xia. She was still helping display clothes and buttons.

Since these weren’t the textile factory’s own products, the factory workers had simply hung the clothes up and laid out the buttons haphazardly, thinking as long as they looked neat, it was fine.

Jiang Xia took advantage of a free moment to reorganize them. Only with a good display would they catch a person’s eye at a glance.

Seeing Zhou Chenglei arrive, Peng Yuhua smiled and said, “Comrade Zhou is here. Xiaxia, you should head back and rest! You’ve been busy all day; you must be exhausted.”

“Alright, I’ll head out then.” Jiang Xia didn’t stand on ceremony since she still had an appointment with Old He. She said her goodbyes and left with Zhou Chenglei.

Peng Yuhua turned to the other employees. “Everyone, hurry up and get off work to go eat!”

The others responded and began packing up their things to leave.

Wen Wan chose the nearest emergency exit to head downstairs quickly. After a long day, all she wanted was to eat as soon as possible and go back to the guesthouse to sleep.

She was descending the stairs quickly when she rounded a corner and saw Zhou Chenglei carrying Jiang Xia on his back as they walked down.

Zhou Chenglei asked Jiang Xia, “Very tired?”

“Mhm, but even though I’m tired, I’m happy.”

Jiang Xia rested her head on Zhou Chenglei’s left shoulder and said softly, “I earned over four thousand yuan this afternoon. I met several foreign merchants who own garment factories, and they ordered a total of five thousand sewing machines, plus a lot of fabric and buttons…”

Jiang Xia’s gentle voice brushed past his ear as she recounted the day’s harvest.

Zhou Chenglei listened intently with steady steps, unwilling to miss the tone of a single word she spoke.

However, a flurry of hurried footsteps interrupted Jiang Xia.

Zhou Chenglei glanced back while still carrying her. Jiang Xia turned her head to look as well.

Seeing it was Wen Wan, neither of them paid her any mind. Zhou Chenglei moved closer to the side and continued walking down at an unhurried pace.

Wen Wan also slowed down, following behind the two of them without overtaking them.

She had just heard Jiang Xia say she earned over four thousand yuan. Biting her lip, she couldn’t help but speak up. “Sister Jiang Xia, I can’t assist you tomorrow. Don’t ask me to help you out anymore. I’m not an errand girl; I’m a translator, and I have my own work to do!”

She had spent the whole afternoon acting as Jiang Xia’s assistant. Jiang Xia had sold loads of fabric, clothes, buttons, brooches, and other accessories—even thousands of sewing machines. In contrast, she hadn’t sold a single button and hadn’t earned a cent in commission.

Jiang Xia wasn’t going to give her half the profits, so she absolutely refused to assist her again tomorrow.

Jiang Xia found her logic baffling. “When did I ever ask you to be my assistant?”

Wen Wan replied, “Director Peng told me to assist you. But I have my own things to do. Everyone is here to sell things and earn a commission. If I’m busy helping you, how am I supposed to sell anything? Besides, you won’t split the money you earn with me, so why should I have to assist you?”

Jiang Xia felt the girl was losing her mind. “Director Peng told you to assist, so you should go ask Director Peng ‘why,’ not me! Understand?”

Zhou Chenglei’s voice was ice-cold. “She understands, but she doesn’t dare. She only dares to pick on you because she thinks you’re a pushover! I’ll ask for her tomorrow! Ignore her.”

Did she really think he was dead? By what right was she questioning Jiang Xia?

Wen Wan’s eyes turned red with anger!

Who was picking on a pushover? Who didn’t dare? He made it sound like she was a bully who feared the strong! It was clearly Jiang Xia who had been oppressing and enslaving her! And now she wasn’t even allowed to refuse?

“Ask then! I’m only speaking the truth!”

Jiang Xia said, “Mhm, let’s ask tomorrow then. Chenglei, walk a bit faster. There’s a sour, rank smell around here; it’s making me want to vomit.”

They had already reached the first floor. Zhou Chenglei simply leaped down the last few steps, pulled open the security door, and walked out quickly with Jiang Xia on his back.

Wen Wan stared at the closing door, her heart full of rage! She felt both furious and aggrieved!

Neither of them was human! One only knew how to threaten her, while the other treated her like a slave!

Seeing Jiang Xia was what made her want to vomit! Having no sense of shame, letting a man carry her in public! Who was she trying to disgust?

Who did Jiang Xia think she was? Everyone was just an employee! Zhou Chenglei was nothing now, just a fisherman! Jiang Xia was just a village woman! By what right did Jiang Xia order her around?

They were the disgusting ones!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Wen Wan stomped down the stairs, her high heels clicking loudly—clack, clack, clack!

Then, her foot twisted!

Losing her balance, she tumbled straight down the stairs.

“Ah—!”

“Help!”

“Help! Help me…”

Outside the exhibition hall, by the roadside.

Yang Qiuying saw a taxi pull over to the curb. Seeing there was no one inside, she hurried forward and pulled the door open.

The driver glanced at her and said, “Sorry, this car has already been reserved.”

Yang Qiuying hadn’t expected that. She was in a hurry to see Ye Xian and had to get home for dinner afterward. She said, “The people who reserved it aren’t here yet anyway. I’ll pay a bit extra. Please take me first. Where I’m going is very close. There aren’t many people left at the hall now; the people who reserved this will be able to catch another taxi soon.”

The driver shook his head. “No, they’ve already paid, and they’re coming now.”

Fares were already expensive during the Canton Fair, and the other party had been willing to add an extra ten yuan per trip just to ensure a car was available on time. How could he break his word?

“Then it’s perfect. Since they’re here, they can just let me have the car.” As Yang Qiuying spoke, she turned around and saw it was Jiang Xia and her group of four.

Jiang Xia, Zhou Chenglei, Zhang Fuyan, and Jiang Dong approached.

Zhou Chenglei had arranged this with the driver the previous afternoon, paying an extra ten yuan per trip to reserve the car. He had booked two times: one to pick them up from the hotel in the morning, and one to pick them up from the exhibition hall in the evening.

Seeing Jiang Dong and Zhang Fuyan walking so closely together, Yang Qiuying felt a bit displeased.

Zhang Fuyan greeted her with a smile, “Auntie Yang.”

Jiang Xia looked at Yang Qiuying and smiled politely. “Where is Director Yang headed? Do you want us to give you a lift?”

Those factories had approached her that afternoon saying Yang Qiuying had arranged it. Whatever the reason, she had essentially sent money Jiang Xia’s way, so Jiang Xia offered the invitation generously.

Yang Qiuying was going to the guesthouse to see Ye Xian; how could she let Jiang Xia drop her off? She forced a smile. “No need. You’re going back to your hotel and I’m going home; it’s not on the way. You go ahead!”

With that, she stepped aside to let Jiang Xia and the others go first.

Yang Qiuying thought to herself: They should really offer the taxi to me and let me go first, right? After all, I’m an elder and a Director.

“Then we’ll be going first! We have an appointment with someone.” Jiang Xia didn’t stand on ceremony. Fearing Zhang Fuyan might feel awkward, she climbed straight into the car. “Xiao Yan, get in!”

Yang Qiuying: “…”

They truly had no idea how to show respect to a superior!

“Auntie Yang, I’ll be going now!” Zhang Fuyan smiled, said her goodbye, and followed her into the car.

Yang Qiuying nodded with a stiff smile. “Alright!”

Jiang Dong reached out to shield the top of the car door, protecting their heads as they got in. Once they were settled, he climbed in as well and shut the door.

Zhou Chenglei went to the front passenger seat.

Then, the taxi pulled out onto the road.

Watching Jiang Dong and Zhang Fuyan sitting side by side in the back, Yang Qiuying’s heart filled with distaste.

She had to ask Ye Xian clearly tonight: exactly when would she be getting back together with Jiang Dong?

Chapter 311: Ye Fu

Yang Qiuying arrived at the guesthouse but couldn’t find Ye Xian. Just as she was about to leave, she saw Ye Xian walking into the guesthouse with a man.

Yang Qiuying’s face darkened. Is Ye Xian bringing a man back to the guesthouse to mess around?

Wouldn’t that bring shame upon her as well?

Ye Xian’s eyes lit up when she saw Yang Qiuying. “Director Yang, this is my big brother, Ye Fu. Could you help me book another room for him?”

Big brother? Yang Qiuying glanced at Ye Fu. He did bear some resemblance to Ye Xian. She said crossly, “There are no extra rooms left in this guesthouse. The very last one was given to you. Go look around nearby yourselves!”

She had only kept Ye Xian around because she wanted her to reconcile with Jiang Dong, but that didn’t mean Ye Xian could just demand whatever she wanted.

Knowing that Yang Qiuying was desperate for her to get back with Jiang Dong, Ye Xian said, “My brother is here to help me win Jiang Dong back. He only needs to stay for a few days because he needs to find an opportunity…”

Yang Qiuying interrupted her, having absolutely no interest in their plan. “How many days is ‘a few’?”

Ye Xian looked at Ye Fu.

Ye Fu said, “I can’t say for sure. I have to find the right opportunity…”

Yang Qiuying interrupted him again. “Fine. You’re here looking for an opportunity? It just so happens the Canton Fair is short on temporary workers to move goods. Go and help out there!”

Ye Xian immediately said, “Thank you, Director Yang!”

Ye Fu also quickly added, “Thank you, Director Yang! I’ll definitely seize the opportunity and work hard!”

Yang Qiuying went to the guesthouse front desk and arranged a room for Ye Fu.

Once the room was settled, Ye Fu asked, “Director Yang, what’s its daily wage?”

“One yuan and fifty cents, room and board included. Work hard, don’t slack off, and don’t cause me any trouble!”

Only one yuan and fifty cents? That was quite little. However, it was still more than what his fellow villagers got for odd jobs in the city. He had a fellow villager who came to Suicheng to work for one yuan and twenty cents a day, and that didn’t even include food or housing.

Ye Fu responded loudly, “I will definitely work hard and perform well.”

Yang Qiuying left immediately without another word to them.

Ye Xian led Ye Fu to his room.

Once they were inside, Ye Xian asked, “Brother, you said you had a way to help me get back with Jiang Dong. How do you plan to do it?”

Ye Fu replied, “What’s the rush? I haven’t thought of a way yet!”

Ye Xian’s expression shifted.

Ye Fu quickly reassured her, “Are you stupid? Now that Director Yang has arranged a job for me, I definitely can’t use my previous plan! Otherwise, it might implicate her. Do you dare to offend Director Yang?”

Ye Xian’s expression softened slightly. “But the reason Director Yang is helping us is that she wants me to reconcile with Jiang Dong as soon as possible.”

“Why does she want you to get back with Jiang Dong so badly?”

Ye Xian shook her head. “I don’t know either.”

“No rush. Since Director Yang wants you to reconcile quickly, then of course we can’t do it too quickly! We have to at least find out the reason! It might be useful later. Besides, I have a job now with room and board, and I can even make some money. What’s the hurry?”

“But there are only about ten days left of the Canton Fair. You…”

“Don’t worry, ten days is plenty! Jiang Dong is at the exhibition hall too, right? I’ll definitely make sure you two get back together before the Canton Fair ends.”

Yang Qiuying walked straight home after leaving the guesthouse.

Seeing Zhang Fuyan and Jiang Dong together earlier had really unsettled her, and she still felt a bit uneasy.

Children at that age were naturally curious about the opposite sex; it was the easiest time for feelings to develop.

Thinking of this, Yang Qiuying felt that Old He’s arrangement was excellent!

Tomorrow, she would continue to arrange for more manufacturers to go find Jiang Xia.

Although she didn’t know what the Ye siblings were planning and didn’t care to know, she knew she had to keep Jiang Xia busy.

That way, Jiang Xia wouldn’t have time to play matchmaker for Jiang Dong and Zhang Fuyan.

Furthermore, if Jiang Xia had no time to look after Jiang Dong, the chances of the Ye siblings succeeding would be higher.

Oh, and she had to keep Zhang Fuyan busy too!

She would make every single one of them so busy they wouldn’t even have time to eat, let alone have time to develop feelings for each other.

The more Yang Qiuying thought about it, the more right it felt. She decided to pile more work on them starting tomorrow.

7:30 PM.

Jiang Xia, Zhou Chenglei, and Old He returned from dinner. In the hallway, they saw Lu Kunjie leaving with a thermal container again.

Lu Kunjie smiled at them, though the smile was a bit forced; he seemed to be in a bad mood.

Jiang Xia smiled politely. “Delivering soup to Xiao Yan?”

Lu Kunjie nodded and explained, “My grandmother made some soup and asked me to bring it over. I’ll be going now.”

“Take care.” Jiang Xia nodded and said nothing more, heading back to her room with Zhou Chenglei.

Just as Zhou Chenglei opened the door and they were about to enter, Jiang Dong’s door opened. He glanced first at Lu Kunjie’s departing back before looking at Jiang Xia. “Sis, Brother-in-law, you’re back?”

Jiang Xia caught Jiang Dong’s subtle expression and said with a meaningful smile, “We’re back. You can sleep peacefully now. No need for panda eyes tomorrow.”

Jiang Dong didn’t catch the underlying meaning and simply nodded. “Then Sis, Brother-in-law, you should rest early too.”

He was going to shower and sleep as well; he was exhausted!

Jiang Xia nodded and went into her room. She was also very tired and just wanted to wash up and go to sleep.

That night, as usual, Zhou Chenglei took care of everything for her.

The next day, Jiang Xia woke up feeling refreshed. Zhou Chenglei had already left a note and gone for his run.

Jiang Xia remembered last night, after her shower, she had been lying face down at the foot of the bed while Zhou Chenglei helped dry her hair.

She had fallen asleep before her hair was even dry. she didn’t know what time he went to bed or what time he got up to run.

He really had incredible stamina, as if he never got tired!

By the time Jiang Xia finished freshening up, Zhou Chenglei returned, his timing impeccable.

He quickly took a shower, and then the two of them called Jiang Dong to go downstairs for breakfast.

Jiang Dong was holding a food container again, preparing to get breakfast for Zhang Fuyan.

Jiang Xia reminded him, “Xiao Yan has quite an appetite.”

Jiang Dong replied, “No, Sister Xiao Yan told me yesterday to get breakfast for her from now on. She has to have morning meetings and doesn’t have time. Sis, let’s go down quickly! Sister Xiao Yan wants to eat shrimp rice noodle rolls today.”

Jiang Xia raised an eyebrow but said nothing more.

In the following days, Jiang Xia was extremely busy. New manufacturers came looking for her every day. Initially, she took on a few more food factories, but she turned down all the subsequent ones. Biting off more than one could chew was never a good idea.

Aside from asking Mother Jiang if she needed help, she refused everyone else who came to her door. Of course, Mother Jiang also refused Jiang Xia’s help.

She was afraid people would say she was being taken care of by her daughter.

While Jiang Xia was busy, Zhang Fuyan was also very busy, with meetings every morning and more meetings after the exhibition closed in the evening. It had been a long time since she had arrived or left with Jiang Xia and the others.

Sometimes, even though they lived right next door, they didn’t see each other once during the day.

This was because by the time Zhang Fuyan finished her meetings and returned to her room, Jiang Xia was already asleep.

Only Jiang Dong insisted on delivering meals to her every morning.

And Lu Kunjie delivered soup to her every evening.

Unknowingly, over ten days passed. There were only two days left until the end of the Canton Fair.

Yang Qiuying and Ye Xian were both getting impatient!

Yang Qiuying pressured Ye Xian.

Ye Xian asked Ye Fu, “Brother, have you thought of a way yet?”

“I have! Just wait for tomorrow!”

Chapter 312: Ye Xian Has Come

Early in the morning, Zhou Chenglei returned from his usual run just as Jiang Xia was woken by the sound of the key turning in the lock.

Zhou Chenglei walked in and, seeing Jiang Xia still lying in bed, asked, “Why don’t you skip today? Let’s finish up early and get some rest.”

Lately, Jiang Xia had been waking up later and sleeping more deeply every day.

She usually tossed and turned in her sleep, but for the past few nights, she had been lying flat on her back, sleeping in the same position until dawn without moving an inch.

It was clear how exhausted she had been over the past half-month.

Jiang Xia really was exhausted. She woke up at 6:30 AM every morning and arrived at the exhibition hall by 7:30 AM, staying busy until she left at 6:00 PM.

She stood for at least eight or nine hours a day, constantly speaking, constantly introducing products; she often didn’t even have time for a sip of water.

It was draining both physically and mentally.

Jiang Xia sat up. “I’ve already given my word; I can’t quit halfway. It’s just two more days. I’m really not that tired, I just want to sleep!”

Jiang Xia yawned as she spoke.

The early morning was a bit chilly, so Zhou Chenglei took a jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

“Then stay here and keep sleeping. I’ll go and hold down the fort for the last two days. It’s the end of the Canton Fair anyway, and the foot traffic has been decreasing every day.”

Jiang Xia got out of bed. “No need. The more I sleep, the more I want to. I think it’s because those massages you give me every night are too helpful for sleep; it feels like I can never get enough.”

“You’re just tired. Massages do help with sleep, but it shouldn’t be quite that extreme.”

During this time, seeing how tired she was, he hadn’t had the heart to trouble her, and their intimate life had come to a halt.

Because of this, she slept around 9:00 PM every night and woke up around 6:00 AM. Averaging nine hours of sleep a day, she was getting plenty—even more than she did at home.

Jiang Xia also found it strange, but she simply felt like she hadn’t slept enough.

Maybe it was because her period was close. Last month it started yesterday, but it hadn’t come today yet. However, she had a heavy feeling in her lower abdomen, so it was probably due.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xia got out of bed and found a sanitary napkin to put in her bag just in case.

Seeing this, Zhou Chenglei asked, “Did your period start? Why don’t you stay at the hotel and rest? You shouldn’t push yourself too hard at a time like this.”

Jiang Xia replied, “No, I’m just getting prepared. Go take your shower; Jiang Dong has been waiting for a while.”

Hearing this, Zhou Chenglei squeezed out some toothpaste for her before going to find his clothes and take a shower.

Fifteen minutes later, the two of them headed out, called for Jiang Dong to join them for breakfast, and then took the bus to the exhibition hall to begin another busy day.

The busy schedule lasted the entire day once again.

However, the foot traffic in the exhibition hall was even lighter today. By 5:00 PM, there weren’t many visitors left.

After Jiang Xia finalized a small order for ten thousand dollars and saw that there were few customers, she checked her watch: it was 5:30 PM.

Jiang Xia said to Peng Yuhua, “Director Peng, I’m a bit hungry. I’ll finish up early today and go back to the hotel to eat.”

Upon hearing this, Director Peng said with a smile, “Then hurry back and find something to eat! It’s almost closing time anyway.”

They certainly couldn’t let the factory’s greatest contributor go hungry! During the Canton Fair, the fact that the factory maintained daily transactions of over a million dollars was all thanks to Jiang Xia, their literal God of Wealth.

As of today, the Textile Factory had successfully secured orders worth over 50 million dollars, more than doubling the city’s target of 20 million dollars.

Jiang Xia alone had brought in more than 30 million dollars in orders for the Textile Factory.

Peng Yuhua was more than satisfied. Of course, she still hoped to make a final push to break 60 million, but with the foot traffic thinning out, it would be difficult.

Jiang Xia gave her instructions and then went to find Zhou Chenglei for dinner.

Zhou Chenglei had been stationed at the shipyard exhibit. After Jiang Xia went downstairs, she first stopped by the public negotiation center to see if Zhang Fuyan was free.

There were still about a dozen or twenty foreign businessmen in the public negotiation area, but there were plenty of staff members. Zhang Fuyan happened to be free, so she checked with Yang Qiuying, saying she would look around to see if any booths needed help.

Seeing Jiang Xia come to take Zhang Fuyan away, Yang Qiuying was extremely reluctant!

She had seen that Ye Xian had arrived.

Yang Qiuying had been waiting all day for Ye Xian and Ye Fu to do something.

She was actually quite curious about what methods the two of them had.

However, she didn’t dare ask. Knowing nothing was the best state for her; she was just carrying out normal work arrangements.

She really wanted to stop Zhang Fuyan from leaving with Jiang Xia, fearing that Jiang Xia would ruin Ye Xian’s plans.

But she couldn’t stop them openly.

Jiang Xia was bold, meticulous, and capable. Fearing that Jiang Xia might notice something, Yang Qiuying readily let her go. “Alright, you go ahead! It’s almost time to clock out anyway. Once you’re done looking around, just head back to the hotel and rest.”

“Thank you, Director Yang,” Zhang Fuyan said before leaving with Jiang Xia.

Once Zhang Fuyan and Jiang Xia were gone, Yang Qiuying also left.

She was truly uneasy.

She had to see exactly what Ye Fu and Ye Xian were planning to do.

If necessary, she would lend them a hand.

Actually, it might be good for Zhang Fuyan to see Jiang Dong and Ye Xian reconcile with her own eyes.

That way, Zhang Fuyan would finally give up on Jiang Dong.

After more than ten days of observation, she was certain that Zhang Fuyan had feelings for Jiang Dong.

Once, during an emergency when she went to gather staff, she saw Zhang Fuyan constantly looking in a certain direction, appearing restless.

A few minutes later, Jiang Dong had brought her breakfast.

Yang Qiuying had been young once; she knew that the fluttering heart of a girl longing for the person she liked looked exactly like that!

Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Dong were both over at the Machinery Exhibition Hall. Jiang Xia and Zhang Fuyan first arrived at the shipyard booth, where Zhou Chenglei was currently explaining the Kent ring to a foreign businessman.

Their eyes met across the room. Jiang Xia pointed toward Jiang Dong’s booth and then toward the exhibition hall’s main entrance.

Zhou Chenglei nodded.

Jiang Xia didn’t bother him further. She asked a shipyard employee to pass on a message that she would be waiting for Zhou Chenglei at the flagpole by the main entrance, then she headed off with Zhang Fuyan to find Jiang Dong.

Once Zhou Chenglei finished his work, he would naturally come out to find her.

Zhang Fuyan linked her arm with Jiang Xia’s as they walked toward Jiang Dong’s booth. “After tomorrow it’ll finally be over. I’m exhausted!”

Zhang Fuyan had been assigned to the public negotiation center by Yang Qiuying. Moreover, she was there every single day, unlike others who could rotate—at the public negotiation area in the morning, a specific booth in the afternoon, or in the logistics department the next day.

There was no rest in the public negotiation center because she had to help over five thousand manufacturers negotiate business and solve language barriers. She couldn’t spare a second.

Jiang Xia said, “It is tiring, but your foreign language skills and ability to handle situations have been well-trained.”

While this Canton Fair was about making money for Jiang Xia, for Zhang Fuyan, it was about accumulating experience and improving her language skills.

“That’s for sure! I’ve noticed my foreign language skills have really improved at a breakneck pace…” Zhang Fuyan’s face lit up instantly.

Fatigue didn’t matter as long as the goal was achieved.

The realization of any goal required countless amounts of sweat and hard work.

In the public negotiation area, one could say that language progress was lightning fast!

Because you had to constantly communicate with foreign friends—constantly speaking and constantly listening. With language, if you hear it and say it enough, it comes naturally.

There weren’t many environments for learning foreign languages in this era, and the Canton Fair was an excellent training ground, especially the public negotiation center.

Many foreign language students weren’t even qualified to participate.

Therefore, no matter how hard or tiring it was, Zhang Fuyan had never thought of backing out.

As they talked, they arrived at the capital’s Machinery Factory booth, but Jiang Dong was nowhere to be seen.

Jiang Xia asked a comrade from the Machinery Factory, “Excuse me, where is Jiang Dong?”

“He was just called out by a female comrade. I saw them walking toward the West Gate.”

Hearing “female comrade,” Jiang Xia’s first thought was Ye Xian. But hadn’t Ye Xian been punished and sent back to school?

Then again, it was possible they hadn’t actually sent her back.

She tugged Zhang Fuyan’s hand. “Let’s go take a look.”

Jiang Xia and Zhang Fuyan walked out of the West Gate and saw Ye Xian and Jiang Dong standing not far away, talking.

It was mostly Ye Xian speaking; Jiang Dong was looking at the cars passing by on the road, seemingly lost in thought, and it was unclear if he was even listening.

Chapter 313: Unconscious

Outside the exhibition hall, Ye Xian stood before Jiang Dong, her eyes red as she spoke. “I’m telling the truth. I know that in your heart, I can’t compare to Sister Jiang Xia. You definitely believe her and not me, don’t you? You don’t believe that she and Zhang Fuyan plotted together to make us break up. It doesn’t matter whether you believe it or not; I know it’s impossible for us to be together now! But I liked you so much that I didn’t want to be wronged by you. I didn’t want our relationship to end so unclearly. That’s why I’m explaining everything to you.”

Jiang Dong didn’t want to hear a single word against Jiang Xia. He found it repulsive!

No matter what his sister was like, she was still his sister.

No matter what she did wrong—even if the whole world thought she was in the wrong—she would never be wrong in his eyes.

Besides, his sister had done nothing wrong!

If Ye Xian hadn’t stood there inside the exhibition hall with red rimmed eyes, insisting she had something to say to him—making him look like some kind of heartless man and drawing curious stares from everyone—he wouldn’t have come out with her just to listen to this pile of grievances against his sister!

His upbringing forced Jiang Dong to listen patiently until she finished. Then, he spoke politely, “Are you done? It’s almost time to finish work. My sister and brother-in-law will be looking for me. I have to go.”

Ye Xian turned her head away sadly. In her line of sight, a large truck was gradually approaching. “No matter how much I say, you won’t believe my feelings for you were sincere! I truly liked you! You only believe your sister’s words. Fine, go! I have no regrets now. I’ll just treat my feelings as if I fed them to the dogs! Don’t worry, I won’t come looking for you ever again! I’m finished!”

Jiang Dong said nothing and turned to walk back toward the exhibition hall, but Ye Xian suddenly pulled him hard. At that moment, a heavy bundle fell from the passing truck and slammed into Ye Xian.

Ye Xian stumbled!

Jiang Dong instinctively turned around, and Ye Xian fell straight into his arms from the impact.

He caught her reflexively.

Just then, another crate fell from the truck, headed straight for Jiang Dong’s head!

Two familiar figures suddenly rushed over and shoved Jiang Dong with all their might!

Jiang Dong and Ye Xian both tumbled to the ground.

Jiang Xia and Zhang Fuyan also collapsed onto the pavement from the force of their own momentum.

Actually, that wasn’t quite right.

Zhang Fuyan had landed on top of Jiang Dong and Ye Xian, while Jiang Xia hit the ground directly.

The falling crate slammed right onto Zhang Fuyan’s leg.

Jiang Dong thought he heard Zhang Fuyan gasp in pain as she landed on him.

At this point, the truck driver must have realized something had fallen and slammed on the brakes.

The sudden stop caused yet another crate to tumble off the truck. Jiang Xia had only just started to move when she was struck!

After that, everything went black.

“Sister!” Jiang Dong screamed in terror!

Ye Xian watched as the crate hit Jiang Xia on the head.

She closed her eyes!

She was furious!

Why were there so many things falling?!

Wasn’t it supposed to be one bag of food that wasn’t too heavy, something that wouldn’t cause serious injury?

If something happened to Jiang Xia, what was she going to do?

Watching from not far away, Yang Qiuying was scared to death and rushed over immediately!

What were Ye Xian and Ye Fu doing?!

What if someone died?

Could they even take responsibility for that?

If she had known, she would have asked them more about their plan!

Mother Jiang had also intended to find Jiang Xia and Jiang Dong for dinner. She was thinking that since the Canton Fair would end tomorrow and she would be in meetings afterward, she wouldn’t have time to see them. Fearing they might leave early the next morning, she had come looking for them today. She arrived just in time to witness the scene, and her legs went weak with fright. As she rushed forward, she stumbled and nearly fell!

“Xiaxia! Xiao Dong!”

People nearby all ran over to help.

Twenty minutes later, the three of them were rushed to the hospital.

Jiang Xia had been struck on the back of the head by a heavy object and was unconscious. There was no external bleeding, but a large lump had formed on the back of her head. Fearing a brain hemorrhage, the doctors sent her straight into the emergency room.

Ye Xian had been “revived” on the spot by a doctor pressing her philtrum, but she complained of dizziness because she had also been hit by a large bag of goods. She was also sent in for an examination.

Zhang Fuyan’s lower leg had been crushed. The pain was unbearable, and she couldn’t move it at all; it was likely a fracture. She was also taken for X-rays upon arrival at the hospital.

Outside the emergency room, Zhou Chenglei, Mother Jiang, and Old He waited.

Yang Qiuying accompanied Ye Xian for her check-up.

Jiang Dong accompanied Zhang Fuyan for hers.

Mother Jiang couldn’t stand still. Her heart was racing with anxiety as she paced back and forth, unable to stop herself from complaining, “I told her not to come to the Canton Fair! I told her to go home early! None of you would listen! I’m so angry I could die!”

Zhou Chenglei stood outside the emergency room door, staring at it without moving. His hands, thrust deep into his trouser pockets, were clenched into tight, trembling fists. He didn’t say a word.

Old He consoled her, “No one wants accidents to happen. It will be fine. Anyone can see that Xiao Xia is a child blessed with good fortune.”

Mother Jiang’s eyes reddened. “I told her to go home, but she wouldn’t listen! None of them listen! If she had stayed home, none of this would have happened! Every single one of them has been disobedient since they were little!”

Seeing her lose control, Old He knew she was just too terrified and needed to vent, so he didn’t say anything more.

Zhou Chenglei was using every ounce of his will just to keep himself from losing it and charging inside. All of his attention was focused on the emergency room; he had no mental energy left to spare for anyone else.

The emergency room door finally opened, and a nurse asked, “Are the patient’s family members here?”

Zhou Chenglei spoke immediately, “I’m her husband!”

Mother Jiang said, “I’m her mother!”

Old He added, “I’m her grandfather!”

The nurse asked, “Is the patient pregnant?”

Mother Jiang: “…”

Zhou Chenglei’s heart nearly stopped. “…Pregnant?”

“I’m asking you if the patient is pregnant. She’s bleeding.”

Zhou Chenglei grew even more frantic. “She hasn’t had her period yet this month. It was supposed to come yesterday, but it hadn’t come as of this morning. I don’t know if she’s pregnant or if it’s just her period. Has my wife woken up yet?”

“No, she’s still being examined.” The nurse closed the door again after hearing his answer.

Mother Jiang muttered, “Xiaxia’s period used to be quite regular.”

Zhou Chenglei looked at the closed door, his body trembling slightly.

He had skirted the edge of death many times, but he had never been as terrified as he was now.

Zhou Chenglei had never been superstitious, and despite everything he had been through, he had never prayed to gods or Buddhas. But at this moment, he couldn’t help but plead in his heart for the Heavens to protect Jiang Xia and keep her safe.

Mother Jiang also couldn’t help but press her hands together in prayer toward the window.

Time felt incredibly long at this moment.

Zhang Fuyan’s leg was bandaged, and Jiang Dong pushed her over in a wheelchair.

Jiang Dong asked hurriedly, “Is my sister not out yet?”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t hear him. His focus was entirely on the emergency room; all other sounds were tuned out.

Mother Jiang was busy praying toward the window and didn’t have time to answer him.

Old He replied, “Not yet. Is Xiao Yan’s leg all right?”

Mother Jiang heard this and also quickly expressed her concern. “Xiao Yan, what did the doctor say about your leg?”

Zhang Fuyan looked at the emergency room door, deeply worried. “It’s just a minor fracture. It’s nothing serious.”

“You’ve suffered because of this. It’s all Jiang Dong’s fault!”

Zhang Fuyan shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Jiang Dong also felt it was his fault!

Why did he have to go out?

If he hadn’t gone out, none of this would have happened.

If he hadn’t gone out, no one would have been hurt.

Please, let his sister be okay!

Such a heavy crate—how did he fail to notice it in time to block it for her?

Just then, Yang Qiuying arrived, pushing Ye Xian.

Yang Qiuying looked at the emergency room door, her heart full of dread. “Is Comrade Xiao Xia all right? Xiao Yan, how about you?”

Zhang Fuyan shook her head. “I’m fine. Xiaxia hasn’t come out yet.”

Old He looked at Ye Xian and asked out of concern, “Has this female comrade finished her examination?”

Yang Qiuying replied, “She has. The results were fine. The doctor said she should stay overnight for observation.”

Everyone’s gaze fell on Ye Xian, who was still sitting in a wheelchair.

Ye Xian couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. She glanced at Jiang Dong. “My head is still a little dizzy.”

She was annoyed to death! How was it that she was the one with the lightest injuries?

She was perfectly fine!

She would have preferred to trade places with Zhang Fuyan!

Even a fracture would have been better!

Chapter 314: The Dream

In the hospital ward, Jiang Xia remained unconscious.

The pregnancy had been confirmed, but there were signs of a threatened miscarriage.

Thankfully, it was determined that there was no brain hemorrhage.

After conducting every possible test, her other vital signs were normal and stable. Old He had brought in the hospital director, who, after a joint consultation with several specialists, concluded that there was no internal bleeding. Her coma was the result of a concussion, her brain entering a state of self-preservation. Her life was not in danger.

Considering she was pregnant, they had avoided X-rays and decided to observe her to see if she would wake up the next day.

Night had fallen.

Due to his advanced age, Old He had already returned to the hotel to rest.

Mother Jiang sat on the sofa, her eyes closed as she tried to rest her mind, though she was too worried to sleep.

Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Dong sat on either side of the bed.

In the neighboring bed was Zhang Fuyan; Jiang Dong sat right between the two beds.

Zhang Fuyan couldn’t sleep either, but she kept her eyes closed, feigning rest.

Zhou Chenglei held Jiang Xia’s hand—the one without the IV drip—tightly in his. He rested their joined hands gently against her abdomen.

His other hand rested on her forehead. Every now and then, his thumb would gently stroke back and forth across her skin. His movements were incredibly light and slow, yet he performed them tirelessly.

The middle finger of the hand holding hers would also occasionally and softly brush over her belly.

He didn’t know what else he could do.

He was afraid her head would hurt, afraid her stomach would ache, and afraid their child would be unsettled. He was trying to soothe her from both ends.

Jiang Xia had a dream. She dreamed she was still living in the modern era.

In the dream, it was as if she were exploring her modern apartment. She understood nothing and touched everything with curiosity.

She dreamed she turned on every switch in the house, opened every faucet, and peered into every cabinet.

She dreamed she held a pile of remote controls, studying every electronic appliance.

She dreamed she was startled by the motion-sensor lights that automatically turned on in the hallway.

She dreamed she was frightened by a robot vacuum going about its scheduled cleaning.

She dreamed she was jumped when the ringtone of a cell phone suddenly blared.

…

In the dream, she didn’t know how to use a phone, a computer, a steam oven, or a dishwasher.

Every day in this dream, she was learning how to use a laptop and a smartphone.

She dreamed she would blush when faced with the senior student who had been pursuing her for many years.

Jiang Xia knew that the “her” in the dream wasn’t really her.

The dream was chaotic, with no sense of chronological order. It was a complete mess!

Later, Jiang Xia dreamed she wanted to go out. She searched everywhere for her house keys and stood there studying the smart lock on the door.

In her urgency, Jiang Xia wanted to tell the other person: That’s a smart lock! You don’t need keys. You can use facial recognition, a fingerprint, or just enter the code.

And then, Jiang Xia woke up!

By the time Jiang Xia opened her eyes, it was already the next day.

The sun hadn’t risen yet, and the world outside the window was a hazy gray.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she met Zhou Chenglei’s bloodshot gaze. His eyes were streaked with red, and his pupils suddenly constricted.

He was sitting right by her bed, one hand pressed lightly against her forehead and the other holding her hand against her stomach.

She had never seen him look like this.

The moment Jiang Xia’s eyes opened, Zhou Chenglei stood up quickly, touching her forehead. “Xiaxia, you’re awake? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

Jiang Dong, who was leaning against her bedside, looked up immediately upon hearing the voice. He gripped Jiang Xia’s IV-attached arm and said excitedly, “Sister, you’re finally awake?”

Zhang Fuyan, who hadn’t slept all night, also looked over quickly.

Mother Jiang rushed over as well, placing a hand on Jiang Xia’s leg. “How are you? Is anything hurting?”

Jiang Xia shook her head, but the movement immediately made her head spin and throb with pain. She instinctively closed her eyes again.

Zhou Chenglei’s heart tightened. He hurriedly said to Jiang Dong, “Go get the doctor.”

Jiang Dong bolted out the door.

Jiang Xia waited a moment for the sensation to pass. “I’m fine. How long was I out?”

Her throat was parched, and her voice was incredibly hoarse. She had been speaking a lot lately, so her voice was already strained, but now it sounded even worse.

Mother Jiang sighed. “You were unconscious all night. You scared us to death!”

Zhou Chenglei quickly grabbed the thermos nearby and poured some warm water into a cup. He used a straw to draw up a little water, tested the temperature to ensure it wasn’t too hot, and then fed it to Jiang Xia.

Mother Jiang had already bought all the daily necessities the previous night. The straw was something Zhou Chenglei had specifically asked her to get so it would be easier for Jiang Xia to drink while lying down.

The doctor arrived shortly after. Seeing Jiang Xia’s mental state, he smiled. “Once she’s awake, the danger has passed.”

He hung his stethoscope around his neck and examined her while asking gently, “Do you feel any discomfort?”

Jiang Xia replied, “My head and my stomach hurt a little.”

The doctor nodding. “A bit of a headache is normal; that bump on the back of your head hasn’t healed yet. It’ll feel better in a couple of days. As for the stomach, there are signs of a threatened miscarriage, and some women experience mild abdominal pain in early pregnancy anyway. It shouldn’t be very severe. If it becomes extremely uncomfortable, you must tell me.”

Jiang Xia froze. “Threatened miscarriage?”

She was pregnant?!!!

She glanced at Zhou Chenglei, then back at the doctor.

Zhou Chenglei squeezed her hand. “The doctor found out yesterday. You’re pregnant.”

The doctor smiled. “That’s right, you’re expecting. There are signs of a potential miscarriage, but don’t be afraid. Just be more mindful and careful from now on. You’ll stay in the hospital for one more day today. If there’s no discomfort by tomorrow, you can be discharged. After three months, make sure to come in for regular prenatal checkups. If anything feels wrong, come to the hospital immediately.”

“Okay, thank you, doctor,” Jiang Xia said. She placed her hand over her abdomen, feeling surprised yet somehow not entirely shocked.

After finishing the basic checkup, the doctor gestured for her to take her temperature and gave a few more instructions. He also checked on Zhang Fuyan, saying she could be discharged today, before finally leaving.

The sun was up; his shift was ending.

Jiang Dong, worried that Jiang Xia and Zhang Fuyan were hungry, asked, “Sister, Sister Xiao Yan, what do you want to eat? I’ll go get some breakfast. Mom, Brother-in-law, what about you?”

Now that Jiang Xia was fine, Mother Jiang needed to get back to the exhibition hall for a meeting. She waved a hand. “Not for me. I’ll just grab something on the way. Get your sister some porridge—minced meat porridge. And some eggs. Don’t get anything greasy.”

Zhou Chenglei stroked Jiang Xia’s forehead. “Is there anything you want to eat?”

She had been spacing out ever since hearing about the baby.

Coming back to her senses, Jiang Xia thought for a moment and shook her head. “Anything is fine. I don’t have a specific craving.”

Zhang Fuyan felt that the couple should have some time alone, so she spoke up. “I want to see what’s available to eat. Jiang Dong, push me over to take a look.”

With that, Zhang Fuyan made a move to get out of bed. Jiang Dong hurried over to support her.

Once Jiang Dong had pushed Zhang Fuyan out of the room, Mother Jiang couldn’t help but start lecturing Jiang Xia again. “You didn’t even know you were pregnant? I told you—”

“Mom!” Zhou Chenglei interjected. “Mom, it’s my fault. I didn’t take good enough care of Xiaxia. Why don’t you tell me what she needs to watch out for now? I promise I’ll take care of her and the baby.”

Interrupted by Zhou Chenglei, Mother Jiang swallowed the rest of her lecture.

Honestly, not a single one of them listens!

However, there were indeed things to keep in mind during pregnancy, and she had intended to instruct them anyway. They were simply too unreliable!

Mother Jiang went into detail about everything she knew.

Jiang Xia lay there quietly, listening.

In her previous life, she hadn’t even been in a relationship, so her knowledge of pregnancy was vague at best—just bits and pieces she had heard from pregnant colleagues or friends. She had never looked into it seriously.

She had seen friends suffer through wretched morning sickness where they couldn’t keep anything down, seen people’s legs swell up in the later stages, and heard them worry about stretch marks.

Zhou Chenglei asked detailed questions, giving neither Mother Jiang nor Jiang Xia a chance to speak. By the time Mother Jiang finished her instructions, it was getting late. she left in a hurry to make it back for her meeting.

Zhou Chenglei sat by the bed and gently cupped Jiang Xia’s face, kissing her. “We’re having a child. You…”

Chapter 315: Playboy?

Jiang Xia knew what he wanted to say. She reached out, grasped his wrist, and pulled his hand down to rest on her abdomen. Placing her other hand over his, she offered a faint smile. “Welcome, our baby.”

Zhou Chenglei smiled, his heart finally relaxing. He gently stroked her flat stomach. “Mhm. Welcome, our baby.”

The two shared a smile.

To be honest, before the child’s arrival, Jiang Xia hadn’t really thought about having one so early. She still had many things she wanted to do, and having a child would inevitably make things less convenient. But the moment she heard the term “threatened miscarriage,” she had been terrified. She was afraid her actions the previous day had harmed it, afraid that he or she had come quietly only to leave just as quietly!

She hadn’t even truly felt the child’s presence before now.

Now, all she felt was anticipation and joy. As long as the child was fine, that was all that mattered. Since the baby had come, they were staying, and she welcomed them. She would love her child.

Zhou Chenglei wrapped his long arm around her, drawing her into his embrace and kissing the top of her head. “Thank you. Thank both of you.”

When the nurse had asked him yesterday if Jiang Xia was pregnant, heaven only knew how frightened he had been in that moment. He was afraid something would happen to her, and afraid something would happen to both her and the child. He felt he wouldn’t be able to bear losing either one of them.

Now that Jiang Xia was awake, all that remained was happiness—profound happiness and gratitude.

As Jiang Xia was pulled tightly into his arms, his chin rubbed against her forehead, and his new stubble pricked her.

He usually shaved every day, so his beard wouldn’t be prominent after just one night. But today, the stubble felt longer than usual and quite prickly.

He must have been incredibly worried last night, right?

Jiang Xia raised her hand to feel his chin.

Zhou Chenglei quickly pulled back slightly. “Did it prick you? Does it hurt?”

Jiang Xia’s skin was incredibly tender. He used to shave only once every two days, but after they got together, he once noticed small red dots on her skin after they had been intimate. Realizing it was from his beard, he made sure to shave clean every day.

He hadn’t slept at all last night and hadn’t had the chance to shave today.

Jiang Xia shook her head and smiled. “This child must really like us and really want us as parents. That’s why they broke through so many obstacles to come to us.”

Zhou Chenglei thought to himself: It certainly was a series of obstacles.

Later, when he was worried, he had tried using two at once, but they still broke. He figured it was a quality issue from reuse, so when he saw disposable ones in Suicheng, he bought many. Now, it seemed he wouldn’t be needing them for a while.

Jiang Xia stroked her belly. “They must be a very determined and strong child.”

On this point, Zhou Chenglei agreed completely. “Mhm, they take after me in that regard. Determined, with high combat effectiveness.”

It was only because he had led the charge that the child could come into this world.

Jiang Xia: “…”

“Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t have a preference. “Either is fine.”

Jiang Xia thought about the frequent dreams she’d been having lately about animals and plants, all of which were very beautiful.

“I dreamt before that a zoo was filled with flowers, and there was a beautiful peacock spreading its tail in the garden. Our child must be very beautiful.”

Zhou Chenglei said, “Then it should be a girl. She’ll be beautiful like you. Only girls like flowers and pretty things.”

Having a beautiful daughter who looked like Jiang Xia would be wonderful.

Jiang Xia went silent for a moment. “…But only male peacocks spread their tails.”

First flowers, then a peacock.

“Is it going to be a playboy?”

Zhou Chenglei: “…”

“No, it’s a daughter!”

Jiang Xia nodded. “It should be a daughter. I dreamt of going to the zoo, and there were so many flowers and many animals.”

“Mhm, a daughter.”

Zhou Chenglei had also had dreams about animals over the past few nights. He’d dreamt of a hunting cheetah chasing a deer, and he’d dreamt of a powerful eagle spreading its wings. It had been very striking.

But since he wasn’t the one carrying the child, those probably weren’t fetal dreams, so he didn’t mention them.

Jiang Xia continued, “The child is currently over four weeks along. The due date should be next July. In that case, I’ll still have time to take the Gaokao. If I get into university, we can rent a house near the school and hire someone to look after the baby during the day. I can attend school while raising the child, or I could apply for a one-year leave of absence until the child is a bit older…” Jiang Xia began planning their future life.

Having a child wouldn’t change Jiang Xia’s life plans. It just meant an added responsibility of being a parent. Her lifestyle would need to adjust, things would be a bit busier, and the original plans might be delayed slightly before they could be fully realized.

As long as things were arranged properly, nothing would be an issue.

Jiang Xia rarely spoke so much; usually, he was the talkative one. Zhou Chenglei held her, listening intently, the tenderness and joy in his eyes impossible to hide.

This moment was very special for him as well.

Suddenly, he had a new identity: he had become a father.

It was an indescribable feeling of happiness and wonder.

He and she had actually created a child in this world.

It gave him a sense that they were now connected by flesh and blood, a bond that would last for lifetimes.

Their child possessed his bones and her blood, a legacy that would be passed down through generations, forever.

And he would be the backbone for both mother and daughter, taking care of and protecting them for the rest of his life.

Jiang Dong had wheeled Zhang Fuyan out to buy breakfast. On their way back, they happened to run into Ye Xian outside the ward.

Ye Xian had intended to check if Jiang Xia was awake, but she didn’t expect to see Jiang Dong pushing Zhang Fuyan back.

If only she were the one in that wheelchair. Then Jiang Dong would be the one taking care of her.

She had never intended for anyone to get hurt, and her brother wouldn’t have dared to hurt anyone else either.

Their agreed-upon plan was to use a “bitter ruse.” She would get injured while saving Jiang Dong, making him feel guilty so that he would care for her in the hospital, leading naturally to a reconciliation.

Her brother’s idea was to place a somewhat heavy package on a truck, unsecured. He told her roughly when that truck would pass by and left her to act when the moment was right.

Who could have known that when the package fell, it would bring other things down with it?

She never imagined that Jiang Xia and Zhang Fuyan would both rush over to save someone, resulting in them getting hit as well!

Why did they jump in?

She only wanted to get hurt herself so that Jiang Dong would pity her and feel indebted to her. She didn’t want anyone else to be injured at all.

Jiang Dong pushed Zhang Fuyan to the front of the ward.

Ye Xian asked Jiang Dong, “Jiang Dong, is Jiang Xia awake? I’ve come to see her.”

Jiang Dong felt his sister probably didn’t want to see Ye Xian right now. He replied politely, “She’s awake, but my sister needs to rest. It’s not convenient for her to be disturbed.”

After saying that, Jiang Dong pushed open the door, wheeled Zhang Fuyan inside, and closed it.

Ye Xian: “…”

Outside the ward, Ye Xian bit her lip.

Just then, Yang Qiuying and Kunjie arrived carrying two baskets.

When Yang Qiuying saw Ye Xian, she frowned but didn’t speak to her.

Fool! To think they had some great plan!

The Canton Fair could have concluded perfectly, but now an accident had occurred, and she wasn’t faring well because of it either.

Old He had already called a meeting early this morning and ordered a strict investigation into the cause of the accident.

She adjusted her expression and gently knocked on the door.

Chapter 316: Do You Know This Person?

Yang Qiuying took out the porridge and said to Jiang Xia and Zhang Fuyan with a smile, “My mother-in-law got up early this morning to cook this. When she heard Comrade Xiao Xia showed signs of a potential miscarriage, she specifically made this glutinous rice and millet porridge. She used a broth made from fresh pig stomach and fish maw to simmer it, saying it helps nourish corresponding parts of the body. She even added some goji berries. I’ve already asked the doctor—it’s not greasy and perfectly safe for pregnant women. Fuyan, you can have some too.”

As she spoke, she poured out two bowls and gestured for Lu Kunjie to hand one to Zhang Fuyan.

She personally carried a bowl over to Jiang Xia. “Come, Comrade Xiao Xia, have a taste.”

Zhou Chenglei reached out to take it. “Thank you. Give it to me; I’ll feed her.”

There was no such thing as kindness without a reason in this world. Why was she being so attentive? Zhou Chenglei looked at her calmly.

Yang Qiuying handed the bowl to him.

“Thank you, Director Yang,” Jiang Xia said. “I feel quite embarrassed by all this.”

Yang Qiuying laughed. “It’s nothing. I had to bring food for Fuyan anyway, and since Fuyan can eat anything, I just made something suitable for you as well. This incident at the Canton Fair happened because my management wasn’t thorough enough. I won’t feel at peace until you both recover.”

Home-cooked porridge was certainly more nutritious than anything bought outside.

Zhou Chenglei simply felt that Yang Qiuying’s sudden display of hospitality was a bit off, but he didn’t think she would intentionally do something to harm Jiang Xia.

She wasn’t that stupid.

Still, Zhou Chenglei took a spoonful and tasted it first. It was indeed delicious. Only then did he begin to feed Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia was indeed a bit hungry. Moreover, she felt there was something interesting about this bowl of porridge.

She hadn’t quite figured out what that “something” was, but she was hungry. If she wanted to eat, she would eat; it certainly wasn’t poisoned.

Lu Kunjie also held up a bowl of porridge for Zhang Fuyan. “Fuyan, try some. It’s very sweet and soft. Grandma simmered it for a long time.”

Jiang Dong glanced at him.

Fuyan?

He didn’t even call his childhood neighbors that affectionately.

Zhang Fuyan took it. “Thank you. I’m really troubling you all too much. I feel so bad with you bringing this and that every day.”

“Don’t be. When we were little, I used to follow you to your maternal aunt’s house to scrounge for meals all the time.”

Zhang Fuyan smiled. “Is that so? I was too young back then; I don’t really remember.”

Lu Kunjie felt a pang of disappointment but smiled. “That’s normal.”

Zhang Fuyan took the porridge and lowered her head to eat seriously, saying nothing more.

Jiang Dong watched Zhang Fuyan focus on the porridge, ignoring the food he had brought back with her.

If she wouldn’t eat it, he would.

He picked up a BBQ pork bun and took a huge bite, stuffing the entire thing into his mouth in just two bites.

Yang Qiuying still had to return to the exhibition hall. It was the final day, and there were many things to handle. She also needed to take a proactive role in investigating the truck incident.

Zhang Fuyan told them they didn’t need to come tomorrow, as they were being discharged.

Yang Qiuying acknowledged this and left with the thermal containers.

Zhou Chenglei carefully fed Jiang Xia a bowl of porridge and then peeled an egg that Jiang Dong had bought.

He only gave the egg white to Jiang Xia and ate the yolk himself.

Lately, Jiang Xia had taken a liking to eating an egg for breakfast, but she only wanted the white and didn’t want the yolk. She always gave it to him. It hadn’t been like that before.

So, it turned out she was pregnant.

He had been careless; he hadn’t even thought in that direction.

Jiang Dong had also bought pineapple buns and BBQ pork buns.

Zhou Chenglei asked Jiang Xia what she wanted.

After eating half a pineapple bun, Jiang Xia couldn’t eat any more. She was full.

At noon, Director Zhou, Factory Director Feng, Director Peng, Fang Aiyuan, and Gu Jingxuan all came by again to visit Jiang Xia.

Everyone brought fruit, malted milk, powdered milk, and various health supplements.

Later, Mother Jiang arrived as well. She washed some of the fruit to serve everyone.

There was a watermelon among the gifts. Mother Jiang didn’t know who bought it. Jiang Xia wasn’t supposed to eat it now, even though it was her favorite.

Fearing that if she kept it, Jiang Xia wouldn’t be able to resist, Mother Jiang sliced it and offered it to the visitors.

Gu Jingxuan handed a piece to Jiang Xia.

Seeing this, Mother Jiang hurriedly said, “Jing Xuan, Xiaxia can’t eat watermelon. She’s pregnant. Watermelon is cold in nature; it’s not good for the fetus.”

She really disliked Gu Jingxuan appearing in front of Jiang Xia!

It was because of him that Jiang Xia had been so insistent on taking the entrance exam for a university in the capital.

Gu Jingxuan froze for a moment. He looked at Jiang Xia, then forced a smile. “Is that so? I didn’t know. Luckily you reminded me, Auntie.”

Mother Jiang smiled. “How would you know such things since you’re not married? Once you marry a wife and have children, you’ll understand. Go ahead and eat it! It’s very sweet.”

The person he liked had been married off to someone else—who was he supposed to marry? Gu Jingxuan gave a strained smile and took a bite of the watermelon.

He was the one who bought the watermelon. He had searched many places before finding it. Watermelon was long out of season now and was very expensive, but because Xiaxia loved it, he had bought it.

The watermelon was sweet, but it couldn’t mask the bitterness in his heart.

When the afternoon break arrived, the nurses quickly ushered everyone out.

In the afternoon, Old He came over.

Zhou Chenglei and Old He spoke in a deserted area.

“The preliminary investigation into the cause of the accident shows that several temporary workers were loading the truck. One of the temps didn’t know the cargo needed to be secured, which caused it to fall during transport. The driver didn’t know it wasn’t tied down properly and drove off. The driver and those workers are very sorry and have offered to pay for the medical expenses. The relevant units will also provide compensation.”

Zhou Chenglei asked, “What are the names of the driver and the temp workers? Where are they from?”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t care about the compensation. What use was money?

He had plenty of ways to make money.

He only wanted the people who had harmed his wife and child to receive their due punishment.

If it wasn’t intentional, he would let it go. But if it was—he would never let them off easily.

Old He replied, “The driver is Li Tian, a Suicheng local and a veteran driver for his unit. There were three temp workers, all locals. One is named Zhang Dahe, another is Tian Guangzhao. The last one is He Yong’an. He’s actually a fellow townsman of yours. He moved to Suicheng as a youth to work in the countryside, married a local woman, and settled here. He has no family left back home and hasn’t returned in many years.”

Zhou Chenglei’s eyes narrowed. “The one responsible for securing the cargo is named He Yong’an?”

Old He nodded. “Yes. How did you know? Do you know this person?”

Zhou Chenglei shook his head. “I don’t.”

But who knew if Ye Xian knew him?

“When I questioned the others, they all pointed to him. When I asked him, he admitted it too, saying it was caused by his negligence. He’s willing to pay the medical fees. Since he confessed voluntarily, if he’s punished here, it will likely just be a fine and a few days in detention for him and the driver.”

“Who arranged for him to be a temp worker?” Zhou Chenglei asked again.

Old He said, “I checked that too. The hiring was done through a unified recruitment process. This isn’t the first time he’s worked as a temp for the Canton Fair.”

“It’s not his first time, yet he didn’t know that cargo needs to be secured before a truck moves?”

“He has always worked in the logistics department moving goods; he’s never assisted with loading trucks before. They were short-handed today, so he went over to help. This is all we’ve found since this morning. I’ve already sent people to check if Ye Xian has had any contact with these four. Or do you have any other leads?”

Zhou Chenglei said, “I want to investigate this personally.”

In minor cases like this, once someone confesses voluntarily and nothing else is found, the case is usually closed.

Furthermore, Old He was returning to the capital tomorrow.

It was better to rely on oneself than on others.

In his eyes, there were too many anomalies in this matter.

Yang Qiuying’s excessive concern was an anomaly.

And the fact that the accident happened just as Ye Xian called Jiang Dong out to talk? It was too coincidental!

That was also an anomaly!

He didn’t believe in coincidences, and he didn’t believe in accidents.

He only believed his own intuition.

How could there be so many coincidences in this world?

The cargo didn’t fall early, and it didn’t fall late—it fell exactly as it passed by them?

Ye Xian called Jiang Dong out to talk; of all the places to stand, why did they happen to be standing right where the truck had to pass?

Coincidence, my foot!

Chapter 317: Ruthless Tactics

Zhou Chenglei returned to the ward alone; Old He had already left.

Jiang Xia asked, “Did you find out anything?”

“Not yet.” Zhou Chenglei tucked the corners of her blanket in. “I need to go out for a while. I expect to be gone for the afternoon. Should I help you to the restroom before I go?”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “No, I’m not in a hurry. It’s not like I can’t walk. My head isn’t dizzy anymore. I can go by myself when the time comes, and if I can’t, I’ll call a nurse.”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t push her. He looked up at Zhang Fuyan and said, “Comrade Zhang, could I trouble you to stay at the hospital for the afternoon to keep Jiang Xia company? You can head back to the hotel later this evening. I have some business to attend to.”

Zhang Fuyan had been preparing to be discharged, with Jiang Dong planning to take her back to the hotel. If they left, Jiang Xia would be left alone in the hospital.

Jiang Dong asked curiously, “Brother-in-law, where are you going?”

Zhang Fuyan quickly interjected, “No problem at all! I don’t mind staying at the hospital for another night. It’s not like I can do much besides lie around back at the hotel anyway. Here, I have Xiaxia to talk to!”

They were originally supposed to take the train back to the capital tomorrow morning with everyone else. However, Jiang Dong was worried about her injured leg—the train ride would take four days, and the restrooms wouldn’t be convenient—so he had booked plane tickets instead. The only available tickets were for tomorrow evening, so they had to stay in Suicheng for one more night.

“Thank you,” Zhou Chenglei said solemnly to Zhang Fuyan, ignoring Jiang Dong’s question.

“No need to be so polite.”

Zhou Chenglei exchanged a few words with Jiang Xia and reminded Jiang Dong to take good care of her and to call the nurse once her IV drip was finished. Then, he left.

After leaving the hospital, Zhou Chenglei went straight to the exhibition hall. Old He had arranged for someone to accompany him during his investigation; otherwise, Zhou Chenglei would have had no official standing to be there.

He didn’t start with the driver, nor did he look for the three temporary workers Old He had mentioned. Instead, he first went through Ye Xian’s file, then the files for the driver and those three workers. After that, he examined the attendance logs for the logistics workers and all temporary staff.

In his eyes, the driver and those three movers weren’t the only ones who were suspicious. He treated everyone as a potential suspect, intending to investigate them all and rule them out one by one.

Eventually, he spotted a name on the attendance log: Ye Fugui. This temporary worker hadn’t been on the log from the start; his name only appeared after the first couple of days.

Long ago, Jiang Xia’s father had investigated Ye Xian’s family background. Since she was his son’s partner at the time, he couldn’t simply trust her blindly and had ensured her family history was clean. He didn’t care about social status, but he required his in-laws to have a respectable background—that was his minimum requirement.

Jiang Xia’s father had even shown those files to Zhou Chenglei. In his heart, he viewed Zhou Chenglei as almost a son and felt that his own son, Jiang Dong, might need Zhou Chenglei’s help in the future, so he had shared the information.

Because of this, Zhou Chenglei knew that Ye Xian had an older brother named Ye Fu.

There was only a one-character difference between the names Ye Fu and Ye Fugui!

“This Ye Fugui… was he recruited later because you were short-handed? Why is his attendance record incomplete?”

the staff member took a look. “Yes, he was hired later.”

“How was he hired?”

“Director Yang arranged it.”

“May I see his employment form?”

The staff member pulled it out. Zhou Chenglei glanced at the contact address and home address. The contact address was for a guesthouse, while the home address was Ye Xian’s hometown.

After thanking the staff member, he went to find He Yong’an and the others.

Zhou Chenglei met with He Yong’an first. There were only the two of them in the office.

At first, Zhou Chenglei didn’t say a word; he just stared at him. This was the same expression he wore when killing enemies on the battlefield. At this moment, he truly felt the urge to kill the man before him. He didn’t even need to pretend.

He Yong’an had never encountered someone so saturated with killing intent. A single look from Zhou Chenglei made him feel as if someone were squeezing his throat. He felt as though he were being stared down by a god of death! He even forgot to breathe.

Zhou Chenglei lowered his eyes, his voice light and cold. “What benefits did Ye Fu give you?”

He Yong’an jumped, looking at Zhou Chenglei in shock.

“Think carefully before you answer. I’m not interested in nonsense, only the truth. Intentional murder is a capital crime. I don’t think you’d want to…”

Two minutes later, Zhou Chenglei walked out. He Yong’an was just an ordinary man; it didn’t take much effort or any special tactics to make him talk.

Zhou Chenglei asked the person waiting outside, “Did you hear that clearly?”

“Yes, clearly.”

Zhou Chenglei added, “Then please bring Ye Fugui here. I have some questions for him.”

Ten minutes later, Ye Fu was brought in. As soon as he arrived, Zhou Chenglei stepped forward and drove a fist into his abdomen!

The pain was so sudden and intense that Ye Fu collapsed instantly. It wasn’t until Zhou Chenglei landed a second punch that the staff reacted and pulled him back.

Zhou Chenglei regained his composure, his gaze chilling and full of lethal intent. He said to the staff member, “Comrade, Ye Xian collaborated with Ye Fu out of a grudge born of unrequited love to instruct He Yong’an to harm my brother-in-law, which indirectly nearly cost my wife her life. He Yong’an has already confessed that the instructions came from Ye Fu! I am pressing charges against the siblings, Ye Fu and Ye Xian, for attempted murder. Please investigate them thoroughly and do not let any criminal escape justice!”

“Furthermore,” he continued, “Comrade Ye Xian committed a major error during the Canton Fair and was already punished by Director Yang Qiuying and ordered back to her school. Why is she still in Suicheng? And how was Ye Fu able to work at the exhibition hall? Please investigate if there were any accomplices! Do not let a single culprit go free!”

After finishing, Zhou Chenglei gave a military salute and walked away.

Ye Fu, curled on the ground and clutching his stomach, was so startled by these words that he even forgot the pain. “No! He Yong’an is full of it! I never told him to hurt anyone! I just told him not to mention that I was the one who swapped shifts with him…”

The staff member ignored his protests and hauled him up. “You have been accused of attempted murder. You’re coming with me for investigation!”

Zhou Chenglei left the exhibition hall and made another phone call. By the time he returned to the hospital, it was already half-past five. He had picked up dinner on the way.

Jiang Xia didn’t ask what he had been doing, assuming he had just been assisting with the investigation. Jiang Dong tried to ask, but Zhou Chenglei ignored him.

Jiang Dong could only sigh.

Zhou Chenglei washed his hands and opened the containers one by one.

Jiang Xia was hungry. “What do we have?”

“Braised pork ribs, tomato and beef stir-fry, numbing-spiced chicken, and spicy fried squid.”

They were all her favorites.

As she ate, Jiang Xia said to Jiang Dong, “When you go back to the hotel tonight, remember to apologize to Gilles for me. I won’t be able to accompany them to climb Cloud Mountain tomorrow.”

Zhang Fuyan said with regret, “If it weren’t for my broken leg, I’d want to go too. I’ve wanted to climb that mountain since I was a kid, but I never managed to.”

Jiang Xia added, “I’ve never been there either.”

Zhou Chenglei placed a piece of pork rib in Jiang Xia’s bowl. “If you want to go, I’ll ask the doctor if you can be discharged tomorrow. If so, I can carry you all the way up. It’s not a tall mountain.”

Zhang Fuyan: “…”

He can do that?

While they were eating, Yang Qiuying and Ye Xian were being taken away for investigation on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

Yang Qiuying was both regretful and anxious. She had heard that Zhou Chenglei was exceptionally ruthless toward his enemies, but today she had finally seen it for herself! To think he would come up with such a charge!

Even if she hadn’t been involved and was eventually found innocent, the process alone would take a heavy toll on her. Her reputation and dignity would be completely tarnished. Any hope she had for a promotion was now utterly destroyed!

Chapter 318: Blocking the Way

After the four of them finished dinner, Mother Jiang arrived.

Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia were not in the hospital room.

Jiang Dong was helping Zhang Fuyan pack her things.

Not seeing Jiang Xia, Mother Jiang asked worriedly, “Where are your sister and brother-in-law?”

“Brother-in-law is helping Sis take a bath,” Jiang Dong replied.

Mother Jiang felt relieved hearing this; this son-in-law was a keeper who truly knew how to look after his wife.

Then she turned to Jiang Dong, her voice dropping into a warning. “If you ever dare to speak another word to Ye Xian or have any involvement with her again, don’t bother coming home! Don’t even think of calling me your mother! Your father will break your legs! We will disown you! Don’t you dare drag the whole family down with you!”

“I know. I won’t,” Jiang Dong said, his heart heavy with guilt and regret.

Heaven knew how terrified he had been! After the doctor confirmed his sister’s pregnancy, they said that if there was any brain hemorrhage, she would need surgery. Surgery required general anesthesia, which meant the baby wouldn’t survive.

In that moment, his fear was matched only by the depth of his regret.

For the past two days, he hadn’t stopped blaming himself. If he hadn’t gone out, his sister wouldn’t have nearly died, and Sister Xiao Yan wouldn’t have ended up with a broken leg.

Mother Jiang couldn’t help but add, “Well, malicious people get what they deserve. They’ve brought this on themselves. I hope the law punishes them severely and keeps them locked up for a long time. There really are all sorts of people in this world!”

Zhang Fuyan asked in surprise, “Auntie, what do you mean? Has the driver been caught?”

Mother Jiang was stunned. “You guys don’t know? Didn’t A-Lei tell you when he got back?”

“Tell us what?” Jiang Dong asked. “Brother-in-law didn’t say anything!”

Zhou Chenglei had indeed kept quiet. It was dinner time when he returned, and he didn’t want to ruin everyone’s appetite. Besides, the doctor said the pregnant patient needed to stay in high spirits.

Mother Jiang then recounted how Zhou Chenglei had gone to assist with the investigation that afternoon. She told them that Ye Xian, Ye Fu, and Yang Qiuying had all been brought in for questioning.

Jiang Dong was incredulous. “Ye Xian and her brother caused the accident on purpose? Why?”

Zhang Fuyan was also surprised, but her shock quickly faded. What truly surprised her was Yang Qiuying’s involvement.

As for what Ye Xian was capable of, nothing really shocked her anymore.

Greedy people were capable of anything. After all, isn’t it said that greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant?

Mother Jiang shot Jiang Dong a sharp look. “You still don’t know why? Ye Fu’s confession says he just wanted to stage a minor accident so Ye Xian could ‘save’ you. He wanted you to owe her a debt of gratitude so she could win you back. He claimed he never intended to hurt anyone and didn’t expect Xiaxia and Fuyan to throw themselves in the way. He’s saying Ye Xian knew nothing and it was all his idea. But who would believe that? If she didn’t know, how could Ye Fu be so sure she would step in to save you? Do they think we’re idiots? It makes my blood boil!…”

Jiang Dong clenched his fists. This was truly…

Zhang Fuyan let out a frustrated laugh. “So, it’s our fault then? Xiaxia falling unconscious and nearly miscarrying, and my broken leg—all because we shouldn’t have jumped in to save him? What kind of people are they?”

Mother Jiang took Zhang Fuyan’s hand. “Jiang Dong dragged you into this. I am so sorry.”

Zhang Fuyan took a breath and calmed down. “It’s fine. It’s not Jiang Dong’s fault. You can’t know what’s in someone’s heart; no one could have guessed they’d do something like this.”

Mother Jiang delivered a heavy smack to Jiang Dong’s back. “Keep your wits about you from now on! Don’t let yourself be played till you’re helping them count the money they made off you!”

“I won’t,” Jiang Dong mumbled. “Mom, keep an eye on Sister Xiao Yan for a second. I need to go to the restroom.”

Thinking he just wanted to escape her scolding, Mother Jiang snapped, “Go on then!”

Once Jiang Dong got outside, he headed straight for the rooftop and punched the wall!

He had no other way to vent the fury burning inside him.

He wasn’t angry at the others; he was angry at himself!

Angry at his own stupidity!

His eyes were red with rage.

Looking back on everything now, he realized it had likely all been a scheme!

He remembered his brother-in-law saying once: if you get tricked by someone, there’s no use blaming them—blame your own stupidity!

By the time Jiang Dong returned to the room, Mother Jiang had already left.

Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei were back in the ward as well.

Zhou Chenglei glanced at Jiang Dong’s hand but said nothing.

Jiang Dong’s hand had already been scraped when he tripped earlier, and a nurse had already bandaged it after applying medicine. He had simply re-wrapped it himself. No one noticed except for Zhou Chenglei.

Jiang Xia was already exhausted. Seeing Jiang Dong return, she let out a yawn and fell asleep peacefully.

Zhang Fuyan hadn’t slept much the night before out of worry for Jiang Xia. Once Jiang Dong returned, she soon drifted off as well.

Jiang Dong said to Zhou Chenglei, “Brother-in-law, go sleep on the sofa. I’ll watch over Sis. You didn’t sleep at all last night or today. I caught a nap this afternoon; I’ll just sit by the bed.”

Zhou Chenglei ignored him.

Did Jiang Xia even need him to keep watch?

Zhou Chenglei sat on the stool by the bed, held Jiang Xia’s hand as it rested on her abdomen with one of his, and leaned his head against the edge of the bed to sleep.

Jiang Dong: “…”

Early the next morning, John and his wife, along with Gilles, his wife, and Aimée, came to visit Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia was still on an IV drip; she couldn’t be discharged until it was finished.

Zhou Chenglei had called them yesterday to inform them and had asked Old He to arrange a local translator to accompany them.

Before they went out to sightsee today, they made a special trip to see Jiang Xia. Unable to find flowers, they brought chocolates, candy, biscuits, powdered milk, and similar gifts.

Jiang Xia held Aimée’s hand and said apologetically, “Aimée, I’m so sorry. The doctor says I shouldn’t move around much for now, so I can’t go mountain climbing with you. Next time you visit, I’ll take you out to play.”

Aimée comforted her, “It’s okay! Mommy said the little baby in your tummy is hurt, so you can’t climb mountains. Mommy has a baby in her tummy too! When they are born, we can go climbing together. I’ll teach them how to climb trees.”

Children always preferred playing with other children. Aimée was clearly looking forward to her new sibling.

Jiang Xia smiled and agreed, then offered her congratulations to Gilles and his wife.

After chatting for a while, Gilles and the others left the hospital to begin their tour.

Once Jiang Xia’s IV was finished, Zhou Chenglei bought a wheelchair to push her out.

The doctor had advised that she should walk as little as possible and get plenty of rest over the next few days.

As the four of them reached the hotel lobby, two people immediately stepped forward to block their path.

One blocked Zhou Chenglei, while the other stopped Jiang Dong.

Lu Kunjie blocked Zhou Chenglei. “Comrade Zhou, could I have a moment of your time in private?”

Zhou Chenglei remained expressionless. “No.”

With that, he continued pushing Jiang Xia toward the elevator.

Yang Min spoke up, “Jiang Dong, I need to talk to you. It’s about Xiao Xian.”

Jiang Dong looked at Yang Min with cold indifference. “Sorry, whether it’s ‘Little Xian’ or ‘Big Xian,’ it has nothing to do with me. I don’t need to hear it. Move!”

He pushed Zhang Fuyan’s wheelchair around her and headed for the elevator.

He wanted nothing more to do with anything related to Ye Xian.

She was the enemy who had nearly killed his sister and his unborn nephew!

The two had no choice but to chase after them.

Lu Kunjie pleaded, “Comrade Zhou, my mother would never scheme to hurt people. This must have nothing to do with her. Could you please not involve the innocent?”

Zhou Chenglei pressed the elevator button. “If she’s innocent, let the law clear her name. Talking to me is useless.”

The elevator doors opened, and he pushed Jiang Xia inside.

Lu Kunjie: “…”

Yang Min also spoke hurriedly to Jiang Dong, “Jiang Dong, Xiao Xian has been arrested! I don’t know who else can help her, so I had to come to you. Please, go rescue her! Xiao Xian said she wants to see you!”

Everyone else had taken the morning train back to the capital, but she had stayed behind specifically to wait for Jiang Dong.

Even Zhu Qingqing had left, saying that Ye Xian’s situation was too complicated and she wouldn’t get involved blindly without knowing the facts.

Yang Min couldn’t stand by and do nothing while a friend was in trouble, so she stayed.

She didn’t know the truth of the matter. After all, the authorities hadn’t finished the investigation and wouldn’t say much during an arrest. People would just guess based on fragments of what they saw or heard, and rumors often became distorted as they spread.

Yang Min had personally seen Ye Xian acting as if she were trying to save Jiang Dong, not hurt him. Therefore, she believed there was some misunderstanding and thought Jiang Dong’s family was using the opportunity to break them up. That was why she came to find him on Ye Xian’s behalf.

Jiang Dong let out a cold sneer. “Rescue her? For what? So she can commit murder?”

Lu Kunjie turned to Zhang Fuyan. “Fuyan, you know my mother isn’t that kind of person.”

Zhang Fuyan replied, “Yes, so you don’t need to worry. Auntie will be fine if that’s the case. The law is fair.”

Lu Kunjie: “…”

Jiang Dong quickly pushed Zhang Fuyan into the elevator.

Jiang Xia didn’t know Yang Min and only gave her a cursory glance.

Zhou Chenglei didn’t even look at them. Once Jiang Dong had pushed Zhang Fuyan inside, he immediately pressed the ‘close door’ button.

The two were left standing there: “…”

Chapter 319: How Much Was Earned?

After Jiang Dong escorted Zhang Fuyan back to her room, he said, “Sister Xiao Yan, I’ll help you pack your luggage first. Then I’ll go back and pack mine.”

Zhang Fuyan replied, “No need, I can pack it myself.”

“You can’t stand on one foot, so how are you going to pack? Don’t be polite. It’s my fault you got hurt, so it’s my responsibility to take care of you.”

Zhang Fuyan was speechless. “You really like ‘taking responsibility,’ don’t you? Are you going to take care of me until my foot is fully healed this time too?”

Jiang Dong replied, “Of course! Isn’t that the basic foundation of being a decent person?”

Since he was a child, his father had always told him that a man’s foundation in life is built on responsibility: Country first, then family, then self. A truly responsible person would never betray their country, would never mistreat their family, and no matter how mediocre their talents, they would never live a meaningless life.

Jiang Dong began helping Zhang Fuyan pack the jars and bottles on the table. Many were local specialties from Suicheng, and many were newly purchased imported skincare products—a huge pile in total.

Jiang Dong couldn’t help but think: No wonder Sister Xiao Yan’s luggage is so heavy!

“That’s true,” Zhang Fuyan admitted.

Being responsible was certainly better than being irresponsible.

Zhang Fuyan pushed her wheelchair to the wardrobe to pack her clothes. However, once she reached it and opened the doors, she realized she wasn’t tall enough to reach things while sitting in the wheelchair.

She tried to stand up on one leg.

Seeing this, Jiang Dong rushed over to support her. “Sister Xiao Yan, what are you doing? Stay seated! I’ll do the wardrobe after I finish with the table.”

“No, I’ll take care of the clothes myself.”

“Sit down, I’ll do it. It’ll be a problem if you fall.”

Jiang Dong helped Zhang Fuyan sit back down and turned to gather the clothes. What met his eyes were several pieces of intimate wear and camisole nightgowns.

Jiang Dong: “…”

His face felt a bit hot.

Zhang Fuyan said, “Just put them on the bed. I’ll fold them and put them in the suitcase myself.”

“Oh, okay.” With a flushed face, he grabbed all the clothes from the wardrobe and piled them on the bed, not daring to look too closely.

Looking at the blushing Jiang Dong, Zhang Fuyan laughed secretly to herself: That’s what you get for insisting on helping!

Speaking of which, after returning to the capital, Jiang Dong would probably continue to bring her meals and look after her every day just like before.

Zhang Fuyan decided she would make Jiang Dong do her laundry every day!

She hated doing laundry the most!

Anyway, she had fractured her leg to save him, and it hurt like hell. Making him do the laundry wasn’t asking too much, right?

In the room next door, Zhou Chenglei made Jiang Xia lie on the bed while he packed.

There was quite a lot to pack, after all, they had stayed for over twenty days. Jiang Xia had also bought many things for their family, for both adults and children.

Jiang Xia took out her notebook. Sitting on the bed, she began to calculate exactly how much money they had earned during this Canton Fair.

She had recorded every single deal she had closed.

She also had a separate record for the deals Zhou Chenglei had handled.

Jiang Xia had a general idea of the profit, but she needed to calculate it carefully.

Yesterday at noon, Director Zhou and the others had also brought the account statements.

Jiang Xia remembered the deals she had negotiated herself, and after checking the accounts, everything was correct.

But she hadn’t looked at the deals Zhou Chenglei had negotiated; she only knew the approximate daily earnings.

Since she had some free time now, it was the perfect chance to reconcile the accounts.

Seeing her getting busy again, Zhou Chenglei gritted his teeth. “Can’t you just lie down and do nothing for once?”

Jiang Xia argued, “I am half-lying! Reconciling accounts isn’t tiring. Besides, checking the books makes me happy. The doctor said pregnant women should maintain a pleasant mood. Don’t disturb me, I’ll be finished soon.”

As Jiang Xia flipped through the pages, she did mental math rapidly.

Zhou Chenglei had no rebuttal and could only silently continue packing the luggage.

He was finished quickly.

Jiang Xia finished her calculations too. She said with a beaming smile, “Guess how much we made this time?”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t need to guess; he had a rough idea. “Around 266,000?”

“266,368 Yuan. You’re still the one who earned more.”

Zhou Chenglei had helped four factories single-handedly: the shipyard, the machine tool factory, the automobile factory, and the agricultural machinery factory. He collected over 160,000 in total commissions.

Jiang Xia had helped the plastic factory, the food factory, the textile factory, the woolen textile factory, the garment factory, the sauce factory… about twelve or thirteen factories in total. After working for nineteen days, she had earned just over 100,000.

She had talked until her throat was dry every day!

However, Jiang Xia hadn’t taken any commission for selling the vacuum machines and the vacuum packaging bag production lines.

Since Jiang Dong received dividends, she considered it helping him sell them. Otherwise, she could have earned over thirty thousand more.

That being said, Jiang Dong should be able to get around 200,000 USD in dividends this time.

Knowledge really is money!

Zhou Chenglei said, “If you were the one selling machinery, you probably would have earned even more.”

Zhou Chenglei admitted he wasn’t as good at marketing products as Jiang Xia.

“Not necessarily. I’m not familiar with machine tools or cars.”

She had seen Zhou Chenglei selling cars, demonstrating them to foreign businessmen; it was practically a display of master-class skills.

One look and those foreign businessmen were placing orders. This year’s car sales at the Canton Fair had broken all previous records, reaching an unexpectedly high level.

Jiang Xia was a decent driver, and her instructor had once said she was talented, but she didn’t have Zhou Chenglei’s level of skill.

She was mostly just familiar with standard operations—forward, reverse, left turns, right turns, reverse parking, parallel parking, and so on. In short, basic maneuvers couldn’t stop her, but that was all.

Jiang Xia added, “Once we have this money in hand, should we use it all for the deposit on the ships? Our commission is in US dollars. I calculated that if we add about 50,000 more, it will be exactly half the deposit.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Xia sighed. “Thinking about it that way, it feels like all that work at the Canton Fair was for nothing! The money doesn’t even get warm in our pockets before it’s gone. We even have to tack on another 50,000.”

“And that deposit is only about half. We’re still short over 600,000 for the final payment!”

Zhou Chenglei stopped packing and sat down beside her. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “The money is going out, but aren’t we gaining two ships? Ships can grow more money; our earning speed will be even faster in the future. Besides, there’s no rush for the final payment. We have plenty of time. I’ll earn enough. Don’t worry, just focus on your pregnancy. By the time our child is born, maybe we’ll be taking delivery of the ships. In the future, I’ll take you and the child to travel the world on a big ship. We can visit a new place every year and try to see the whole world in this lifetime.”

The doctor had said pregnant women tend to be more sentimental and emotional; it seemed he was right.

Zhou Chenglei reminded himself to pay more attention to Jiang Xia’s moods in the future.

Jiang Xia: “…”

So while other people travel the world on cruise ships, I’m going to travel the world on a freighter?

Actually, that’s not bad!

As long as she got to travel, she wasn’t picky!

At 5:30 PM, after the four of them had dinner together, Jiang Dong and Zhang Fuyan took a taxi to the airport to catch a flight back to the capital. Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei took a taxi to the pier.

Each pair set off on their respective journeys home.

When the couple arrived at the pier, they spotted their own boat at a glance.

Father Zhou had docked yesterday afternoon and stayed at the pier for the entire day to secure a good spot while waiting for his son and daughter-in-law.

When Father Zhou saw Jiang Xia in a wheelchair, he was scared out of his wits and rushed off the boat.

“Oh my god!”

“What happened to my precious Wealth-bringer? Why is she in a wheelchair?”

That brat Zhou Chenglei is useless!

He couldn’t even take care of his own wife?

When Jiang Yang and the others saw Zhou Chenglei pushing Jiang Xia while carrying numerous bags, they also hopped off the boat to help.

Chapter 320: Going Home

Father Zhou rushed to Jiang Xia’s side immediately, his face etched with worry. “What happened, Xiaxia? Is your foot hurt?”

Jiang Xia stood up and smiled. “Dad, I’m fine. Chenglei was just worried I’d get tired.”

She shot a glance at Zhou Chenglei. It was all his fault for insisting on getting a wheelchair; otherwise, he would have insisted on carrying her.

He had given her a choice between the two.

Basically, he refused to let her walk too much because the doctor said she needed plenty of rest and minimal movement for the next few days.

Faced with those two options, Jiang Xia had no choice but to pick the wheelchair.

Father Zhou breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang Yang and the others were speechless when they heard this.

The boss actually got a wheelchair just because he was afraid his wife would get tired?

The Big Boss’s way of thinking was truly different from ordinary people!

Zhou Chenglei said expressionlessly, “The doctor said you shouldn’t overexert yourself.”

Father Zhou didn’t catch the subtext at first, but hearing “the doctor said” made him nervous again. “You went to see a doctor? Where do you feel unwell?”

Jiang Yang glanced at Zhou Chenglei.

The boss was acting as if nothing was wrong, but his eyes were shining with a joy he couldn’t suppress. Usually, the boss’s gaze was cold and indifferent—nothing like this. This was clearly the look of a man who had become a father and wanted to tell the whole world!

The few members of the crew who were already married and had children understood instantly.

“Sister-in-law must be expecting! Congratulations, Boss!”

“Uncle, Sister-in-law is definitely pregnant! You’re going to be a grandfather!”

“Just look at how smug the Boss looks. He’s definitely going to be a father!”

Father Zhou froze for a second. “You’re going to be a father?”

He looked at his daughter-in-law, then back at his son.

“Yeah.” After Zhou Chenglei gave a soft affirmation, he couldn’t help but grin, smiling like a fool.

The joy and happiness he had suppressed for two days could finally no longer be contained.

It was like sunlight breaking through the clouds, radiating in every direction.

It made it obvious to everyone just how happy he was.

Jiang Yang and the others were inwardly amazed.

They couldn’t have imagined the regimental commander would be like this after getting married.

On his wedding day, he had still looked quite indifferent.

Father Zhou laughed too, his smile a carbon copy of Zhou Chenglei’s.

No wonder every time they went out to sea lately, they had a bursting net and came back with a full hold. It turned out they had a little lucky charm on the way!

From now on, his family would have two magnets for wealth—the big one and the little one. With fortune rolling in from both, wouldn’t their lives be flourishing from here on out?

“If Xiaxia can’t get tired, then get on the boat quickly. Don’t stand for too long,” Father Zhou said, beaming.

Jiang Yang and the others hurried to help carry the various bags and bundles onto the boat.

The wheelchair was draped with luggage, Zhou Chenglei’s arms were full, and even Jiang Xia was cradling a large bundle in her lap.

Many of these were gifts brought by people who had visited Jiang Xia in the hospital.

Jiang Xia had bought even more herself, including two silk duvets, so there was a massive amount of luggage.

Once the teammates had taken everything, Father Zhou carried the “throne” onto the boat.

With his hands finally free, Zhou Chenglei helped Jiang Xia board.

Yang Mei and the other women congratulated Jiang Xia once more.

Father Zhou asked, “Are we still going to the Xisha Islands? Or straight home?”

He didn’t know the specifics of Jiang Xia’s condition, but he figured if she were perfectly fine, his son wouldn’t have gone as far as getting a wheelchair.

After all, pregnancy wasn’t an illness; it shouldn’t make one afraid to walk a few steps.

Father Zhou was a father of several children and a grandfather to several more. He had seen plenty of pregnant women and wasn’t ignorant.

He suspected there might have been a minor scare, which was why his son was being so protective.

However, since she was his daughter-in-law, it wasn’t appropriate for him to pry.

Zhou Chenglei replied, “We’re not going. Xiaxia wants to go home. I’ve already called Mom to let her know.”

He had truly wanted to take Jiang Xia to see the coral reefs in the Xisha Islands. The weather was perfect right now; the sky was a blue without a single wisp of cloud, and the sea there was so beautiful it looked like a literal shard of glass.

In short, it was stunning, but he didn’t know how to describe it and just wanted her to see it.

Some coral reefs could even be seen from the surface, though they weren’t as beautiful as seen from underwater.

After discussing it last night, Jiang Xia decided not to go and wait for a future trip.

On the boat, she didn’t have to work and wouldn’t get tired. She could sit or lie down as she pleased. He had asked the doctor, and it was safe.

Taking a boat was safer than a car; cars could be bumpy, while a boat only swayed when the waves were large.

But the forecast for the coming days was clear and calm; he had checked.

“Fine, then we’re going home. Your mother will be thrilled.” They had been out for over twenty days, and everyone was eager to get back.

“Alright. Dad, you and Jiang Yang take the helm tonight. I’ll look after Xiaxia.”

“Will do. I’ll handle the steering; you just take good care of Xiaxia,” Father Zhou said happily.

He ran to the helm in high spirits.

Today was a glorious day, so they wouldn’t stop to trawl. They would pick up speed and head home to make the old lady happy.

She had been longing for another grandchild for a long time.

Zhou Chenglei helped Jiang Xia back to the cabin.

He had previously cleared the bedding to make it easier for Father Zhou to sleep. Now, he brought it out and laid it out again.

“Lie down and rest for a bit.” Since the bunk was a bit high, he simply picked her up and tucked her in.

Then he went back to organize the luggage.

Everything was stored in the cabinets under the bed for now, to be taken out only when they reached the pier. Otherwise, there wouldn’t even be room to stand.

Jiang Xia watched him tidy up from the bed and pointed to three specific bags. “Don’t put those three bags away. I bought those for Sister Mei and the others. Take them over and distribute them. Everyone gets the same thing.”

Jiang Xia had prepared some local Suicheng specialties for them: snacks from all over the country bought at the Canton Fair, imported chocolates, cookies, two cashmere sweaters—one black and one white—and a set of imported skincare products. Considering that while white was easily soiled, it was versatile, she had picked white for the sweaters.

Jiang Yang and the others had been Zhou Chenglei’s comrades-in-arms who faced life and death together; in the future at sea, they were brothers who would do the same.

The big boat could earn so much money because of them, so Jiang Xia had prepared generous gifts.

They had left their families behind and risked their lives to drift across the ocean with Zhou Chenglei after all.

“Okay.” Zhou Chenglei set those items aside first.

As Jiang Xia watched him, the steady “thrum thrum” of the boat’s engine made her feel incredibly safe, and she soon drifted off to sleep.

When she stopped talking, Zhou Chenglei looked up and saw that she was indeed asleep.

He tucked the blanket around her, finished organizing the remaining items, and then took the three bags to Jiang Yang, telling him to let the wives divide them so everyone got a share.

Yang Mei and the others felt embarrassed when they saw the gifts.

“This is way too expensive! This must be worth several hundred yuan altogether, right?” Yang Mei said.

“Yeah, I usually can’t even bear to buy White Rabbit Creamy Candy for the kids, let alone these things covered in chicken scratches. They look very expensive.”

“I’ve seen these cashmere sweaters in the mall; they cost over a hundred yuan each.”

“I’ve heard from a neighbor who works at the department store about this skincare set; it’s also over a hundred yuan a set.”

After looking over the gifts, they all turned to Jiang Yang. “This is too much; we can’t possibly accept this. Give it back to Xiao Xia!”

Jiang Yang waved them off. “Sister-in-law prepared these, so just take them. She’s pregnant now, so when we get home, see what’s ripe in your gardens or if there’s any good food you know how to make. Prepare some and bring it for her the next time we head out. That’ll make the Boss very happy.”

Upon hearing this, they all started thinking about what they had at home that was worth bringing.

The boat sailed smoothly with the wind for the entire night. The next morning, at the crack of dawn, they first stopped at the City Pier to drop off Jiang Yang and his group so they could catch a bus home. Then, they headed for the village pier.

In the early morning, as the sun was just rising, the large boat docked.

They were finally back at Xiaoyucun!

Chapter 321: Unfairness

The pier was busy in both the early morning and the late evening.

Today happened to be Sunday, so many nearby villagers and even people from town had come to buy fish.

The arrival of the large boat caught many people’s attention.

Mother Zhou knew they would be back today and had been waiting at the pier since early morning. When she saw the large boat docking, her eyes lit up.

It wasn’t just Mother Zhou; Tian Caihua, Zhou Chengsen, Li Xiuxian, and several children had also come along.

Only Zhou Chengxin was out at sea as usual and wasn’t present.

Zhou Chengsen and Li Xiuxian had happened to bring their children home last night to visit his parents. Hearing that Father Zhou and Zhou Chenglei’s boat would dock this morning, they came over to see if there were any catches that needed moving.

Familiar villagers watched the Zhou family waiting for the large boat and remarked enviously, “A-Lei is truly capable. How long has it been since he was discharged? He bought such a large boat just like that. And that big house—he built it just as easily.”

Mother Zhou said humbly, “What do you mean capable? Buying this boat was a huge bargain. All of Xiao Xia’s dowry was poured into it. It’s also thanks to Xiao Xia’s good luck at sea; every time he takes her out, they earn quite a bit. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to afford the boat.”

Whenever the large boat docked, people would approach Mother Zhou with similar comments. Normally, she enjoyed hearing them.

However, her other two daughters-in-law were here today!

Last night, when the second daughter-in-law returned and saw that three-story house, she had barely spoken a word during dinner.

Mother Zhou was very afraid that her two daughters-in-law would think the old couple had secretly subsidized the fourth son, but even if she told the truth, no one would believe it.

Tian Caihua had personally experienced how lucky Jiang Xia was. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but add, “Xiao Xia’s luck really is incredible!”

They had been gone for nearly a month, and finally, they were back!

With Jiang Xia gone this past month, their income had plummeted!

The person who missed Jiang Xia the most was Tian Caihua!

Li Xiuxian remained silent.

The old couple must have provided a subsidy, she thought; it was just that her mother-in-law didn’t dare admit it.

Another villager chimed in, “I heard that from the roof of your three-and-a-half-story house, you can see all the way to town. Is it true that you built a water storage tank on that top half-floor? They say you’ll pump water up from the well so that, just like houses in the city, you can just turn on a tap and have water. Is that true?”

Mother Zhou smiled. “I think that’s how A-Lei designed it, but I don’t really understand it myself.”

The house was fully built, and the granite-plaster exterior walls were finished. Now, they were applying exterior tiles to the eaves and edges.

The tiling was almost done; the scaffolding could be taken down tomorrow afternoon.

Then it would be time for the interior decoration. Great-Grandpa said it would take about another month to complete.

They would be able to move in right before the New Year.

She had already picked out the auspicious date.

“I heard there’s a bathroom on every floor. In the future, you won’t have to go outside to the latrine at night. It’s built just like the apartments in town and the city, right?”

“It’s not quite like a city apartment,” Mother Zhou replied. “Those apartments have the kitchen and bathroom all inside. Ours isn’t like that. The kitchen is built outside. Inside, there’s just a washroom to make it convenient for bathing and using the toilet.”

“Well, that’s still about the same as the city. It must be so comfortable to live in!”

Mother Zhou replied with a smile, “I don’t know if it’ll be comfortable or not. As long as the children like it, it’s fine. They’re the ones who will be living there; how many more years can an old woman like me live?”

Once the boat was moored, Mother Zhou said, “I have to get to work now! Let’s chat next time!”

“Alright.”

The children had already gathered beneath the large boat, cheering and shouting, “Grandpa! Auntie! Uncle!”

Jiang Xia responded with a smile, “Auntie bought you lots of delicious treats. Once we get to the old house, I’ll give them to you.”

Then Jiang Xia greeted Father Zhou, Zhou Chengsen, Tian Caihua, and Li Xiuxian.

The boat was quite high, and this pier wasn’t a formal one; it had simply become a pier because so many boats docked there.

It wasn’t like the professional pier back in Canton City.

Zhou Chenglei jumped off the boat first. He told his nephews and nieces to step back so they wouldn’t bump into Jiang Xia, and then he reached up to lift her down.

Father Zhou cautioned, “Careful now, hold her steady.”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t say a word. When had he ever not held her steady?

He was even more nervous than his father.

Jiang Xia held onto the edge of the boat and hopped down.

Zhou Chenglei caught her firmly, holding her bridal style this time.

After setting Jiang Xia down, Zhou Chenglei looked around for the motorcycle and asked Mother Zhou, “Mom, did you bring the motorcycle?”

Once he spotted the motorcycle, he said, “Give me the keys. I’m taking Xiao Xia home first.”

Jiang Xia said, “No need, I can drive home slowly myself.”

As Mother Zhou handed him the keys, she asked in surprise, “What’s wrong?”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t answer directly. “Mom, don’t you know how to stew pregnancy-stabilizing soup? Make some for Jiang Xia later.”

With that, Zhou Chenglei led Jiang Xia toward the motorcycle, carrying only the bag containing their money and documents, ignoring everything else.

By the time Mother Zhou realized what “pregnancy-stabilizing soup” implied and wanted to ask for details, Zhou Chenglei had already led Jiang Xia far away.

Zhou Chengsen grinned. “Mom, you’re going to have another grandchild.”

Tian Caihua froze for a moment, thinking: Now that Jiang Xia is pregnant, can she still go out to sea? It feels like Zhou Chenglei is treating her like she’s made of porcelain!

Mother Zhou was so happy that tears welled in her eyes. Her most cherished youngest son was finally having a child. She wiped her tears. “I’m going back right now to find ingredients for the soup.”

Father Zhou called out to her, “Xiao Xia was using a wheelchair before she boarded the boat. The doctor said she shouldn’t overexert herself.”

Mother Zhou was stunned. Did that mean there were signs of a potential miscarriage?

Her heart fluttered with anxiety. If the first one was lost, it would either be hard to conceive again or easy to lose subsequent ones.

For reasons unknown, some people’s constitutions were just like that.

“I’ll go find some old pumpkin.”

Mother Zhou didn’t care about anything else and ran back toward the house.

Father Zhou called over his second son and two daughters-in-law to help move the belongings.

Dinner was prepared by Mother Zhou and her two daughters-in-law, with Great-Grandma and He Xinghuan coming over to help as well.

Jiang Xia was now a “protected species.” She only had to sit in the courtyard and hand out gifts to the children.

In addition to various snacks, Jiang Xia had bought a new set of clothes for each of the children at the Canton Fair. The younger boys each received a toy car, and Zhou Jie wasn’t left out either.

Zhou Zhou and Zhou Ying each received a Barbie doll.

Since Zhou Wenguang had started junior high, toy cars were no longer suitable for him, so Jiang Xia bought him a pair of roller skates.

He had wanted them for a long time, but Tian Caihua was the type who refused to spend a single cent on toys.

The children were overjoyed with their gifts, even happier than they were during the New Year.

The boys immediately stripped off their old clothes, wanting to put on the new ones and take their toy cars to play with their friends in the village.

In the entire village, only these siblings had toy cars—and each had their own with different styles.

Seeing this, Tian Caihua began to scold them, “Are you looking for trouble? Putting on such nice clothes now? Take them off and save them for the New Year!”

Even during the New Year, children in the village didn’t necessarily get new clothes. Many children had patches sewn onto the seats of their pants, layer upon layer.

Tian Caihua also couldn’t bear to buy new clothes for her sons every year. Besides, she didn’t have that many coupons. She had always taken the old clothes of Zhou Chengxin and Zhou Chenglei and altered them for her eldest son.

After the eldest son outgrew them, the second son would wear them, then the third, and finally the youngest.

Zhou Zhou used to wear the hand-me-downs from her brothers and Zhou Ying as well.

Tian Caihua ran over and snatched all the new clothes and snacks from her sons. “It’s almost time for dinner! What are you doing eating biscuits? You’re not allowed to eat them!”

With so many good dishes tonight, wouldn’t it be a waste to fill up on snacks?

The snacks could be saved and eaten slowly.

Li Xiuxian watched as Tian Caihua packed the clothes and snacks into two woven sacks.

By comparison, the single set of clothes and few snacks her daughter received seemed pitifully meager!

Wasn’t it a bit unfair for Jiang Xia to distribute things based on the number of children?

Shouldn’t it have been divided by household?

Chapter 322: Quietly Eating, Watching the Show

The belongings of Guangzong, Yaozu, and their brothers were packed away, leaving each of them with only one toy car. Their excitement and joy vanished in an instant.

It was like a bundle of straw burning brightly in a stove suddenly being yanked out!

Tian Caihua even lectured them, “Don’t take them outside to play! Only play with them inside the house! If you take them out to play with the other children and they get broken, don’t come crying to me! I won’t buy you any more.”

Hearing this, the children were terrified that even their toy cars would be confiscated. They clutched their little cars and bolted outside. “We won’t! We won’t break them!”

With that, they vanished in a flash, ignoring Tian Caihua entirely.

After finishing distributing the items to the children, Jiang Xia headed back to her room to tidy up.

Zhou Chenglei was in the room putting a duvet cover on the bedding. Before they had left for Suicheng, the weather hadn’t been too cold, so a thin quilt was sufficient.

Now that the Start of Winter had passed, it was getting cold in the mornings and evenings, so a thin quilt wouldn’t do.

The bamboo sleeping mats had been put away and replaced with soft bedding.

Zhou Chenglei wasn’t afraid of the cold; in the past, he would sleep on bamboo mats even in the dead of winter. However, Jiang Xia couldn’t do that; she was quite sensitive to the cold.

Sensing her entrance, he didn’t turn around, simply saying, “Are you tired? Sit at the desk for a moment. I’m almost done.”

Jiang Xia glanced at his cool, tall, and upright figure. Outsiders would probably find it hard to imagine that a man who looked so distant would do such trivial chores as putting on a duvet cover.

Yet, in married life, it was often these small things that warmed the heart the most.

Jiang Xia surveyed the room, which hadn’t been lived in for over twenty days. The windows were bright, the tables clean, and everything was spotless.

The mosquito net, window curtains, and door curtains all carried the scent of sunlight and honey locust soap. Clearly, Mother Zhou had helped wash them.

Zhou Chenglei quickly finished with the duvet. Holding it by the corners, he gave it two firm shakes, and it lay perfectly flat.

Thinking of the silk duvets she had bought, Jiang Xia said, “In a bit, take those two silk duvets. Give one to Mom and Dad and one to Zhou Zhou. Help Zhou Zhou put her cover on later.”

Zhou Zhou’s current quilt was a cotton one that her parents had used when they first got married. It was nearly ten years old, had grown stiff, and didn’t wrap around the body well.

When the weather turned even colder, that small body of hers probably wouldn’t stay warm enough under such a quilt.

Silk duvets were much better at conforming to the body. Since Jiang Xia had helped the owner sell them at the Canton Fair, he had given her two at the factory-gate price.

One for Zhou Zhou, and one for Father and Mother Zhou.

She and Zhou Chenglei didn’t need to buy any, as Jiang Xia’s parents had provided silk duvets—both winter and spring/autumn versions—as part of her dowry.

“Alright,” Zhou Chenglei replied. He then asked, “Are you tired? Want to lie down on the bed for a bit?”

“I’m not tired.” She started rummaging through the bags for the clothes she had bought for Father and Mother Zhou; she had also bought some for Zhou Zhou.

Having helped the garment factory sell clothes at the Canton Fair, she had been able to purchase items at prices even lower than the factory-gate price, so she had bought quite a lot this time.

She had prepared everything the family needed for winter: down jackets, down vests, wool sweaters, wool pants, shoes, socks, and more.

She had also bought clothes for Jiang Dong and her parents.

Each person had at least four or five sets.

She had also bought quite a few clothes for herself and Zhou Chenglei. She couldn’t help it; seeing those factory prices, which were so much cheaper than at the mall, she just couldn’t resist.

Especially toward the end when the customer flow slowed down, she spent her free time shopping. It felt like she was in the middle of a “Double Eleven” sale; she wanted to buy everything.

Seeing her rummaging through the bags, Zhou Chenglei pulled her hands away. “Just sit down. I’ll handle it.”

Jiang Xia then directed Zhou Chenglei, having him take out the gifts for the family and then putting their own things away in the wardrobe.

With one directing and the other organizing, they soon had everything sorted and put in its place.

It was almost time for lunch.

The lunch spread was lavish, mostly consisting of things Jiang Xia liked, though there were no crabs this time.

There were twelve dishes and one soup: steamed Large Yellow Croaker, fried capelin, pan-fried sole fish, mixed fish stew, spicy shrimp, garlic butterflied shrimp, stir-fried squid with chili, plain sliced duck, salt-water chicken, sweet and sour goose, sea bass with pickled vegetables, a vegetable dish, and old duck soup.

He Xinghuan and Mother Zhou had worked together over a large iron wok to prepare the meal, with others helping out. Considering Jiang Xia was pregnant and they weren’t sure if she was craving sour or spicy foods, the meal included sour, spicy, and sweet flavors.

Li Xiuxian secretly watched to see if Jiang Xia preferred spicy or sour food more.

When she was pregnant with her daughter, she had craved spicy food.

However, Jiang Xia wasn’t picky at all. She ate everything and didn’t show a strong preference for any particular flavor.

So, was she carrying a boy or a girl?

Seeing Jiang Xia’s good appetite, Great-Grandma smiled and said, “The child in Xiao Xia’s belly must be a very well-behaved one!”

Mother Zhou was also paying attention to Jiang Xia’s tastes, mainly to know what to cook more of in the future.

Li Xiuxian spoke up, “Xiao Xia, your household registration is still in the city, right?”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Yes.”

Li Xiuxian said, “Then you should hurry and transfer it back to the village. Otherwise, if you have a girl this time, you won’t be allowed a second child. If you don’t transfer it back soon, it’ll be hard to do it later.”

Hearing this, Tian Caihua chimed in, “Xiao Xia isn’t like you; she’s like me! When I was carrying A-Guang and his brothers, I ate everything too. I wasn’t picky, so Xiao Xia is likely carrying a son. She’s not like you, Second Younger Sister-in-law, who could only eat spicy food back then. So, it doesn’t matter if she transfers her registration or not. If she doesn’t, the child can have a city registration and eat state-supplied grain. Isn’t a city registration better? If she transfers back, she’ll have to pay the public grain tax.”

Li Xiuxian’s face darkened. She hated it when people pointed out that she had only given birth to a daughter. Why did Tian Caihua have to use her as an example?

Even if she had a daughter, she had a job and would have a pension in the future. She was a hundred times better than Tian Caihua! What was so great about having so many sons?

Having many sons was Tian Caihua’s pride, while only having one daughter was Li Xiuxian’s sore spot.

Tian Caihua had watched Li Xiuxian moping all morning as if everyone owed her something. Wasn’t it just because she saw how many more things Jiang Xia had bought for Tian Caihua’s sons? Tian Caihua couldn’t resist poking at Li Xiuxian’s sore spot.

Moreover, Li Xiuxian had another annoying trait: she thought she was so cultured and educated.

Tian Caihua continued relentlessly, “Besides, Xiao Xia is educated and can do anything. She can make money going out to sea to fish, she can make money translating for a publishing house, and she can make money as a translator at the Canton Fair. She doesn’t have to worry about losing a job at all. So, it doesn’t matter what the first child is; she’ll have the money to raise as many as she wants. Unlike you, Second Younger Sister-in-law. You’re a teacher, so you can’t have another child even if you wanted a son, or you’d lose your job.”

Li Xiuxian felt like slamming her bowl onto Tian Caihua’s head.

Zhou Chengxin was still out at sea and hadn’t returned, so with no one to keep her in check, Tian Caihua was letting loose.

Hmph, you think being a primary school teacher makes you so cultured and superior? You’re just a junior high graduate! You only got lucky because when the village was hiring teachers, nobody else had any education, so you got the job!

Jiang Xia was the one who was truly impressive and genuinely educated. She had gone to the Canton Fair as a translator and brought back so many things; she clearly made a lot of money.

Originally, Tian Caihua hadn’t realized how impressive being a translator at the Canton Fair was.

But because Wen Wan had gone too, her mother-in-law had been bragging in the village every day, saying only university students were qualified to go and that the pay was 150 yuan a day. The whole village knew Wen Wan was supposed to earn thousands of yuan from one trip.

In the end, after only two or three days, Wen Wan had fallen down some stairs, twisted her ankle, and discovered she was pregnant, so she had been sent back.

Seeing Li Xiuxian’s face turn black with rage to the point she couldn’t even eat, Tian Caihua felt very satisfied.

That woman had sat there for half the morning and only managed to wash a few stems of greens and mince a bowl of garlic. She hadn’t done a thing!

She was the biggest slacker of them all, so why should she eat so much?

It was better if she couldn’t eat!

Did she think she was like Jiang Xia, someone who could bring in wealth?

Tian Caihua wasn’t going to put up with her.

Jiang Xia ate her meal in silence, watching the grand drama between her two sisters-in-law.

She had to admit, it made the food taste even better.

Chapter 323: Her Neurosis Acts Up Again

Tian Caihua was in a great mood and decided to let Li Xiuxian off the hook out of the goodness of her heart.

She turned to Jiang Xia and asked, “Xiao Xia, Auntie Qiang said Wen Wan earned over a hundred and fifty yuan a day as a translator at the Canton Fair. Did you get a hundred and fifty a day too?”

Li Xiuxian’s ears perked up at this.

She knew about the Canton Fair. The teacher who tutored her daughter in English had been recommended to go as a translator but didn’t make the cut. That teacher had said that anyone who could go to the Canton Fair must have excellent foreign language skills.

Was Jiang Xia’s English really that good? Or was she only able to go as a translator for her mother’s garment factory? If it was the latter, her actual language proficiency wouldn’t have mattered much.

Jiang Xia shook her head. “No, I didn’t ask for a salary. I only took a commission.”

Tian Caihua looked confused. “What does that mean? Is a commission more than a salary?”

Jiang Xia gave a simple explanation. “It’s hard to say. A commission means I earn a small amount for every item I help the factories sell. For example, if I sell a thousand yuan worth of goods, I might earn five or ten yuan. Taking a commission depends on luck; you get paid if you sell, and you get nothing if you don’t.”

Tian Caihua’s face fell. “…Wouldn’t it be better to just take a salary then?”

Earning only five or ten yuan for selling a thousand yuan worth of goods! How many thousands would she have to sell just to reach a hundred and fifty yuan?

Jiang Xia simply smiled and didn’t say anything.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuxian immediately assumed Jiang Xia was just helping her mother sell clothes. Based on what Jiang Xia said, it sounded like a salesclerk’s job rather than a translator’s.

“Xiao Xia, did you go to the Canton Fair to translate for your mother’s garment factory?”

Tian Caihua knew exactly what Li Xiuxian was thinking. They had been sisters-in-law for nearly ten years; Li Xiuxian didn’t even have to speak for Tian Caihua to know what kind of foul air she was about to vent. She just wanted to believe Jiang Xia only got there because of her mother.

“I know the answer to that,” Tian Caihua piped up. “Xiao Xia didn’t go as a translator for her mother’s factory. She was there translating for a food factory, a plastic factory, a textile factory, and a shipyard! That plastic basin you used to wash vegetables all morning was a sample the plastic factory gave Xiao Xia to test, and so was that plastic bucket. The instant noodles Yingying ate this morning were samples too. Even the cushion you’re sitting on was made by Mom using fabric scraps from the textile factory’s swatch books.”

Li Xiuxian was speechless.

Tian Caihua then realized that since Jiang Xia was translating for so many factories—and since ships were so expensive—if Jiang Xia had sold even one or two, her commission must be huge.

“Xiao Xia, how much did you earn this time as a translator? Was it more than fishing?”

Jiang Xia replied, “Mhm, it was a bit more than what we usually make from a fishing trip.”

At the very least, she had earned over three thousand US dollars a day, though it was usually closer to five or six thousand.

Li Xiuxian knew they already made quite a bit from fishing. To hear that Jiang Xia earned even more at the Canton Fair was shocking. She couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity, “So, how much did you actually make at the fair?”

Jiang Xia considered that since they now had the money, they could take delivery of the two large ships next year. If they hadn’t had enough, the shipyard had given them a grace period of two to three years. To prevent her two sisters-in-law from thinking Father and Mother Zhou were subsidizing them later on, Jiang Xia said, “It was just enough to pay the deposit on the two large ships we ordered previously.”

“Cough, cough, cough…” Father Zhou was drinking soup and immediately choked.

Tian Caihua was so startled that she bit her tongue, hissing in pain as it began to bleed.

Tian Caihua knew that Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei had put down a thousand yuan deposit for two massive ships. Together, the ships cost over a million yuan—she couldn’t even remember the exact “over a million” part because the moment she heard “a million,” she thought it was impossible. Either way, it was a million plus hundreds of thousands more!

When Tian Caihua first heard about it, she figured they would never earn enough money to actually take delivery of the ships. But now, after one trip to the Canton Fair, they had actually paid the real deposit!

Li Xiuxian was stunned. Two more ships?

The first branch of the family had ordered one ship! And now these two had ordered another two! Even for the smallest fishing boats, the deposit would surely be seven or eight thousand yuan, wouldn’t it?

Li Xiuxian realized that out of all the brothers, her family was now the poorest. Even Tian Caihua was acting all high and mighty in front of her now.

Before Father Zhou could even catch his breath, he asked urgently, “How much of the deposit did you pay?”

Surely it wasn’t what he was thinking?

“Half,” Jiang Xia replied.

Father Zhou was stunned. “Half?” His voice turned thin. “Six hundred and twenty thousand yuan?”

“Yes.”

My god!

Father Zhou’s face broke into a massive grin.

Hahaha… He thought they had gained a “Little Lucky Charm” in Jiang Xia, but it turned out she was a “Mega Lucky Charm”! Prosperous, prosperous, prosperous!

Li Xiuxian doubted her own ears. “How much?”

Tian Caihua replied, “You heard right. Six hundred and twenty thousand!”

She knew Jiang Xia was lucky, but she never imagined her luck was this incredible.

Li Xiuxian was at a loss for words. Was the Canton Fair floor paved with gold? How could a translator-salesgirl earn hundreds of thousands of yuan? Jiang Xia’s mother must have given her all the profits from the garment factory!

Zhou Chenglei explained, “The shipyard’s orders are quite large. Xiaxia secured a major deal for the shipyard on the very first morning and earned over thirty thousand yuan in commission right then.”

Tian Caihua gasped. “…Good heaven. No wonder you wanted commission instead of a salary! I had no idea commissions could be that high!”

She knew Jiang Xia was sharp! Auntie Qiang was bragging everywhere about Wen Wan’s hundred and fifty yuan salary. Hah! Jiang Xia made over thirty thousand in a single morning! A whole day of Wen Wan’s salary wasn’t even enough to cover the pocket change Jiang Xia earned in a few hours.

Zhou Chengsen was also shocked, but his shock was mixed with joy for his brother. He asked curiously, “How big are the ships you ordered?”

Father Zhou said beamingly, “A sixty-meter fishing boat and a freighter of over two thousand tons.”

Zhou Chengsen looked at Zhou Chenglei in surprise. “A freighter? Why a freighter?”

Zhou Chenglei tested the soup’s temperature. Finding it just right, he placed it in front of Jiang Xia. “There will be plenty of work for freighters in the future.”

Realizing that the Reform and Opening-up era was truly underway, Zhou Chengsen nodded. “You’re right, there’s a future in it. It’s just high risk.”

After finishing lunch, Li Xiuxian signaled for Zhou Chengsen to go back to their room. The couple retreated.

Tian Caihua pursed her lips when she saw them leave. Slacking off even on the dishes again!

Inside the room, Li Xiuxian said bluntly, “Go tell Mom and Dad that we’re heading back to town now.”

Zhou Chengsen was immediately displeased. “Didn’t we agree to go back tomorrow morning?”

He wanted to stay overnight and have a few drinks with his Eldest Brother and Fourth Brother to celebrate the purchase of the new ships. This was such a joyous occasion! His younger brother was gaining both a child and a fortune. It definitely called for a celebration!

“I haven’t finished preparing my lessons yet!” In truth, Li Xiuxian simply couldn’t stand staying there another minute. Every time she came back to the village lately, there was some massive shock. Honestly, she was getting afraid of coming home.

Zhou Chengsen knew her competitive nature, and he knew her neurosis was acting up again. “Then go back yourself! I’m staying with Yingying, and we’ll head back tomorrow morning.”

They only came home once or twice a month; he wanted to linger a bit longer.

Li Xiuxian’s face darkened.

Seeing her unhappiness, and knowing that if she went back alone his parents would ask a million questions, Zhou Chengsen tried to coax her. “Yingying hasn’t had enough fun yet. Let her play with her cousins in the village a bit longer. Besides, you’re always looking for English teachers for her. Fourth Sister-in-law’s English is so good; why don’t you let Yingying learn from her? Maybe one day she can go to the Canton Fair as a translator too, and earn enough to buy us big ships and build us a big house!”

After a bit more coaxing from Zhou Chengsen, Li Xiuxian reluctantly agreed to stay one more night.

Chapter 324: Peeking

After lunch, Jiang Xia walked outside to take a look at the new house.

The exterior wall tiles were still being laid. The scaffolding lacked protective netting, so she didn’t dare get too close, fearing something might fall.

To Jiang Xia, who was used to skyscrapers, a three-story house seemed quite short. However, there was no denying it had become the tallest building in the village.

Jiang Xia glanced at the house next door.

Zhou Guohua’s house had stopped at two stories. A small room had been built where the stairwell would be, but it only had roof tiles and no poured floor slab. She wasn’t sure if they intended to make it easier to add more floors later or if they had simply run out of money.

Jiang Xia suspected it was a bit of both.

Their exterior walls hadn’t been tiled either; from the outside, it was just a plain red brick house. Zhou Bingqiang loved to compete with Father Zhou. If they had the money and saw the Zhou family tiling their walls, they wouldn’t have left theirs bare.

Zhou Yongguo’s house was already being renovated on the inside. It would likely be finished even sooner than hers.

Jiang Xia withdrew her gaze after a brief look, focusing only on her own home.

Because of this, she didn’t notice a figure in white passing by a window in the neighboring new house. The figure suddenly froze, then hid by the window frame, peeking out at Jiang Xia.

Wen Wan didn’t know why she was spying; she just felt compelled to look. She wanted to know why, since they both were reborn and she had lived many more years than Jiang Xia in her previous life, Jiang Xia was doing so much better than her in this one.

Wen Wan was here today to supervise the work. The laborers were doing a sloppy job; the wall plastering was uneven, and they were cutting corners on materials.

Zhou Guohua had to go out to sea and didn’t have time to manage the construction every day.

When Wen Wan had come to check a few days ago, she found that a wall on the second floor wasn’t even straight! It infuriated her.

Jiang Xia truly had the better life; her construction workers were dedicated and diligent!

Wen Wan stared at Jiang Xia, her mind drifting.

Today, Jiang Xia was wearing a coffee-colored turtleneck top paired with a matching wool plaid pinafore dress. The plaid on the skirt was a shade darker than the top, a color combination perfect for autumn and winter. It looked beautiful on Jiang Xia, giving her a unique air of elegance.

She just stood there, hands in her pockets, her supple waist looking as if it could be encircled by a single hand, gazing up at the house.

A few grapevines trailed over the stone courtyard wall. Standing beneath the grape leaves, she looked like a celestial beauty descended to the mortal realm.

Wen Wan thought to herself: That outfit would definitely look beautiful on me too!

Pinafore dresses were very trendy in Suicheng lately, with many different styles available. The most popular ones had wide straps, a form-fitting top, a loose hem, and a lower neckline—very flattering for one’s figure and temperament.

Many people in Suicheng were wearing them. Wen Wan had originally planned to buy two such dresses for herself after the Canton Fair, once she had made some money.

If she hadn’t been so angered by Jiang Xia that she tripped down the stairs and sprained her ankle, she wouldn’t have missed out on making money and buying the clothes she wanted.

Jiang Xia must have made a lot of money, right?

The fabric of her clothes looked exceptionally high-quality and expensive.

Wen Wan realized that every time she saw Jiang Xia—except when she was going out to sea—she was never wearing the same outfit twice.

Just how many clothes did she have?

Inside the house, Father Zhou called out to his grandsons and granddaughters, “Didn’t your Auntie buy you new clothes? Go try them on and see if they fit! Grandpa is taking you to the convenience store to buy some treats!”

Upon hearing this, the children reacted as if they had received an imperial edict from the Retired Emperor. They immediately swarmed their mothers to get their new clothes.

Tian Caihua was still washing dishes and told them to go get the clothes themselves, warning them, “Don’t get them dirty! You still have to wear them for the New Year.”

Once the children were dressed, Father Zhou also put on the new clothes, shoes, and socks Jiang Xia had bought for him. He then headed out with the group of grandchildren.

As soon as they stepped out, they saw Jiang Xia standing outside the new house, looking it over.

Father Zhou greeted her with a beaming smile and cautioned, “It’s windy out here, Xiao Xia. Don’t stand out for too long.”

Jiang Xia took in Father Zhou’s new outfit and smiled. “Okay. Are you going for a walk, Dad?”

Zhou Wenzu chimed in, “That’s right! Grandpa is taking us to the convenience store. Auntie, is there anything you want to eat? I’ll buy it for you.”

Jiang Xia reached out and patted the boy’s head with a smile. “I can’t think of anything right now. How about you buy what you like, and then you can give me a little taste later?”

“Okay!” Zhou Wenzu replied loudly.

He liked his Uncle and Auntie the most.

The other children didn’t want to be left behind. “Auntie, when I buy something tasty, I’ll share some with you too.”

“Auntie, me too!”

“Grandpa, hurry! I want to buy something yummy for Auntie.”

Jiang Xia laughed and agreed to all of them.

Father Zhou said with a chuckle, “These little rascals insisted I take them to the store, so I’ll take them now.”

Jiang Xia understood Father Zhou’s intentions and smiled. “Then go ahead, Dad.”

Thus, Father Zhou happily led his grandchildren toward Great Tree Garden.

With a new addition to the family and newfound wealth, he naturally had to let everyone know!

Lunchtime was when the most people were active at Great Tree Garden. He was going to do some “promotion.”

Just as Father Zhou’s back disappeared from Jiang Xia’s sight, Mother Zhou appeared. She was also dressed in new clothes and carrying a vegetable basket. Seeing Jiang Xia, she was startled. “Why are you standing out here in the wind? Aren’t you cold?”

As she spoke, she took Jiang Xia’s hand, which felt a bit chilly.

Jiang Xia smiled. “I’m not cold. I was just checking on the progress of the house. A-Lei is inside looking around; I’m waiting for him.”

Zhou Chenglei was currently touring the interior. Since he had just returned, he hadn’t seen how much the house had progressed.

Mother Zhou couldn’t help but grumble, “Why did he leave you out here in the wind? Never mind him, get back inside! I made some soup for you to stabilize the pregnancy. I left it on the desk in your room. Drink it once it cools down a bit. Go on, get inside. I’m going to ask around and see who has an old pumpkin.”

Mother Zhou knew a folk remedy for stabilizing a pregnancy that required the stems of old pumpkins. The soup she had prepared for Jiang Xia already contained some.

“Okay,” Jiang Xia replied.

Mother Zhou took Jiang Xia’s arm to lead her back and then shouted toward the new house, “A-Lei! Come out here right now! Xiaxia is cold!”

Jiang Xia: “…”

She really wasn’t cold!

Zhou Chenglei happened to emerge from under the scaffolding just then.

Mother Zhou handed Jiang Xia over to him and couldn’t help but nag again. “Don’t take Xiao Xia running around for no reason. She needs to lie down and rest for the next few days. Especially don’t go near your Big Brother’s place. A-Guang’s mother is nearing her end; you two must stay away from there! And stay away from Yongguo’s new house as well! Get inside! Don’t get close to those places!”

Mother Zhou believed strongly in the superstitions passed down by the older generation. Someone who was pregnant shouldn’t attend funerals, watch people digging pits, be around groundbreaking or construction, participate in renovations, or set up new beds…

There was a long list of “dont’s.”

However, since their own house was already under construction before Jiang Xia became pregnant, she wasn’t as worried about that. But Zhou Bingqiang’s house next door wasn’t their own. Being so close, Mother Zhou feared it might clash with the pregnancy, so she didn’t want Jiang Xia standing outside for too long.

“I understand,” Zhou Chenglei replied, putting his arm around Jiang Xia’s waist and leading her inside.

Only then did Mother Zhou happily set off to find an old pumpkin stem. She ran into a villager just around the corner.

Jiang Xia heard the villager complimenting Mother Zhou’s new clothes. Mother Zhou laughed and replied, “You like them? I’m still not used to wearing them. A-Lei’s wife bought them at the Canton Fair. Oh, by the way, does your family have any old pumpkin stems? Or do you know who might? A-Lei’s wife is pregnant and got exhausted at the Canton Fair, so I’m looking for…”

Jiang Xia entered the house, and the rest of the conversation faded away.

The wind carried Mother Zhou’s words to Wen Wan’s ears. As she watched Zhou Chenglei support Jiang Xia as they went inside, she was thoroughly stunned. Jiang Xia is pregnant too?

How could it be such a coincidence?

Chapter 325: Teaming Up to Bully Her

Wen Wan hadn’t initially wanted to give birth to this child; she had been hesitating these past few days.

She was also afraid.

Two days ago, she’d had a very strange dream. In it, she was in a delivery room giving birth.

Zhou Chenglei was waiting anxiously outside.

She even heard the doctor come out and say something about the mother having a severe postpartum hemorrhage.

She had thought the dream was about her hemorrhaging while giving birth to Zhou Chenglei’s child.

So, it wasn’t?

Was it Jiang Xia who would suffer from hemorrhaging during childbirth?

That put her mind at ease!

Fortunately, it wasn’t her!

While she didn’t exactly wish for Jiang Xia to hemorrhage—she considered herself kind-hearted and not that wicked—it wasn’t a matter of what she wanted anyway.

Still, would she and Jiang Xia end up giving birth on the same day?

She really didn’t want that! How ominous!

Wen Wan watched Zhou Chenglei’s figure as he guided Jiang Xia into the courtyard, holding her so carefully. It seemed she really was pregnant.

As soon as Jiang Xia entered the house, she saw the bowl of pregnancy-stabilizing soup Mother Zhou had mentioned sitting on the desk.

Zhou Chenglei caught a whiff of a faint, fresh fragrance. “It’s the pregnancy-stabilizing soup. Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law both drank it before.”

He picked it up and took a sip. It didn’t taste bad. “It’s still a bit hot.”

He held the bowl and blew on it gently.

By the time Jiang Xia had changed into her pajamas, the soup was at the right temperature. She held the bowl and slowly finished it. A warm sensation spread through her entire body. After resting for a moment, she went to take a nap.

Zhou Chenglei stayed with her for a while, mainly to warm the bed so she could sleep more comfortably.

Once the bed was warm and Jiang Xia was fast asleep, he got up and went to the new house to work on tiling the exterior walls.

He hoped to finish the tiling this afternoon and dismantle the scaffolding tomorrow so Jiang Xia could see the full appearance of the house.

When Jiang Xia woke up, it was already four o’clock in the afternoon.

Zhou Chenglei wasn’t in the room, but Jiang Xia noticed a pile of small snacks on the desk.

There were candies, sunflower seeds, sour plum powder, red ginger strips, dried bayberries, small fried dough twists…

At a glance, she knew the children had bought them from the convenience store to share with her.

Jiang Xia smiled and got out of bed. She picked up a piece of candy wrapped in translucent paper with the words “Lard Candy” printed on it in red.

Jiang Xia had never tried it before. She put it in her mouth and took a bite.

It was smooth, refreshing, soft, and fragrant. It was sweet without being cloying and rich without being greasy. She could taste the distinct aroma of lard, yet it wasn’t heavy. It was unique and quite delicious.

There were four pieces in total, and Jiang Xia couldn’t resist eating another one.

Lard really was a wonderful thing.

Use it for stir-frying, and the dish became fragrant.

Use it for pastries, and the pastries became fragrant.

Use it for candy, and the candy became fragrant.

Use it for soap, and the soap became fragrant.

Jiang Xia tried a bit of everything before heading out.

When she stepped outside, she saw Tian Caihua and Li Xiuxian with the children in the courtyard, peeling sweet potatoes.

There were two large basins of steaming hot sweet potatoes in the courtyard.

There were also four large basins of sweet potatoes that had already been peeled.

Li Xiuxian was regretting her life choices!

If she had known they were going to dry sweet potatoes this afternoon, she would have gone back to town.

Tian Caihua saw Jiang Xia and smiled. “Xiao Xia, you’re awake?”

The children chirped up, asking if she had seen the snacks they gave her.

Jiang Xia responded with a smile, thanked the children, and praised the snacks for being delicious.

The kids were delighted and declared they would buy more for her next time.

Jiang Xia laughingly agreed and then asked, “Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, are you preparing to make dried sweet potatoes? That’s a lot.”

Tian Caihua replied, “The sweet potato harvest was good this year. Mom said we couldn’t eat them all, so we should make more dried sweet potatoes and sweet potato starch. I’ve already finished drying the sweet potato starch; I’ll bring some over for you tomorrow.”

Freshly harvested sweet potatoes can be turned into starch immediately, but for dried sweet potatoes, they need to sit for a while.

It’s best to let the sweet potatoes soften until the skin wrinkles slightly and the moisture content drops. That way, the resulting dried sweet potatoes are sweet, soft, and beautiful, looking as if they’ve been brushed with a layer of oil.

Such dried sweet potatoes were delicious, but the only drawback was that they didn’t keep for very long.

Because of the high sugar content on the surface, they tended to mold easily during the rainy spring season.

Dried strips made from fresh sweet potatoes had less sugar; they weren’t as sweet and were harder, but the surface stayed dry, allowing them to be stored longer.

The Zhou family had many children, so Mother Zhou dried a lot of sweet potatoes every year—some soft, some hard—hoping they would last a while.

But with so many kids, nothing in the house ever stayed for long. Both the soft and hard ones were devoured quickly! Eventually, they decided to just make them all soft and sweet, since they tasted better anyway.

The sweet potatoes had been harvested for several days. Tian Caihua had waited until today to start boiling and drying them.

Actually, Tian Caihua hadn’t planned on doing it today.

But wasn’t there someone back home who only knew how to eat and take things without doing any work?

Tian Caihua felt uneasy if she didn’t make Li Xiuxian do some labor!

Every time, Li Xiuxian only returned after the crops were all harvested, just to eat and take!

Did she think she was Jiang Xia? Someone who could bring in wealth and was loved by everyone?

Tian Caihua wasn’t going to indulge her, so she picked out some of the smaller sweet potatoes that had already softened to boil.

The rest would have to wait another two or three days before they could be boiled.

Jiang Xia pulled up a bamboo chair to join them in peeling.

Tian Caihua quickly stopped her. “You don’t need to do this. Go over to the lounge chair and lie down! Don’t tire yourself out!”

Li Xiuxian rolled her eyes.

These were the sweet potatoes from the fourth brother’s family. Tian Caihua made her help but told Jiang Xia not to! Where was the logic in that?

Jiang Xia picked up a sweet potato and began peeling. “It’s fine. Sitting here isn’t tiring.”

Tian Caihua added, “I’ve already harvested the sweet potatoes and rice from your 667-square-meter plot. I didn’t hire anyone. Why hire people? It’s a waste of money. Since I’m home and have time, and A-Guang and the others can help during their harvest break, I finished it all for you in two or three days. So, I didn’t hire anyone.”

Jiang Xia said, “Thank you, Eldest Sister-in-law. I was thinking that with several plots total, and with A-Lei and me at the Canton Fair, only Mom would be home. I was worried she wouldn’t be able to manage.”

Tian Caihua said, “It’s not like there are several plots, just those two or three plots (about 0.2 hectares) in total, right? The others aren’t yours. But you’re the filial one. Even when you’re away working, you still think about the elderly working hard in the fields and want to hire help. People in this village rarely think like that! Everyone thinks they’re something special just because they work outside, leaving the field work to the elderly without a second thought!”

Li Xiuxian finally understood!

These two sisters-in-law were teaming up to bully her!

She hadn’t come back during the busy harvest, but her family of three didn’t even eat much from the land; her workplace provided benefits.

Every year from the harvest, they only sent 100 to 150 kilograms of rice, 15 to 20 kilograms of oil, a bag or two of sweet potatoes and peanuts, 10 to 15 kilograms of dried sweet potatoes, and a few kilograms of sesame and beans to town! It wasn’t even enough for her to give away as gifts to maintain social connections! Didn’t the rest all end up in their stomachs?

She sent them so much grain, and they still weren’t satisfied? They still wanted her to come back and work?

Li Xiuxian really wanted to hurl a sweet potato at Tian Caihua’s face!

To hit this greedy woman!

She truly regretted not going back to town immediately after lunch.

Jiang Xia heard the subtext as well. Seeing that Li Xiuxian was on the verge of exploding and fearing she might actually throw sweet potatoes at them, she quickly changed the subject. “The weather has turned cold lately. Are they catching many fish out at sea?”

Zhou Chenglei had told her during her nap that Father Zhou had earned 98,700 yuan from fishing in the distant seas for over twenty days. He said none of the other boats he encountered had earned as much as theirs, and he claimed the child in her belly brought great fortune.

Tian Caihua immediately perked up at the mention of this. “Don’t even get me started. We only get fifty or sixty yuan a day now, at most a hundred or so—not even two hundred. Xiao Xia, are you and A-Lei going out to sea tomorrow?”

Chapter 326: Everyone Wants to Go

Even if Jiang Xia wanted to go out to sea, Zhou Chenglei wouldn’t allow it.

Besides, there was a time for everything, and Jiang Xia was not someone who didn’t know how to set her priorities. She shook her head. “I’m not going. I’m not sure about Chenglei, though; I haven’t asked him yet. But he probably isn’t going either. Isn’t he supposed to dismantle the scaffolding tomorrow?”

Moreover, the interior renovation was about to begin. Zhou Chenglei would likely settle the renovation arrangements before heading back out to sea.

Interior renovation was the most tedious part. After plastering the walls, they had to be whitewashed, and then the plumbing and electricity had to be installed.

In this era’s renovations, water pipes and electrical wires were not typically hidden beneath the walls or floor tiles. Of course, you could hide them if you dared.

Jiang Xia didn’t dare. The water pipes nowadays were still made of iron; though they could last twenty or thirty years, these old-fashioned iron pipes were prone to rusting and bursting.

Thinking about it, she decided against it to avoid the hassle of future repairs or replacements. The house might undergo a second renovation later anyway; they could worry about it then.

Furthermore, Jiang Xia was thinking that when the village finally got running water, she would replace them with plastic pipes if they were available. She just didn’t know when the village would finally get tap water.

When Tian Caihua heard this, she also felt they wouldn’t be going out to sea. It was a bit of a pity, but she knew the house was a major priority.

From atop the scaffolding, Zhou Chenglei saw Jiang Xia in the courtyard peeling sweet potatoes.

Half an hour later, he climbed down, returned to the courtyard, and approached her. “Where did you put the phone book? Help me find it, will you? I need to call the electrician.”

How could Zhou Chenglei not know where the phone book was? Jiang Xia knew he was just reminding her to stop working and go back to the room to rest. She stood up to wash her hands. “I’ll go find it for you.”

Many hands made light work; the peeling was almost finished, with only a few sweet potatoes left in the basin.

Zhou Chenglei took Jiang Xia back to the room to rest and came out again shortly after.

Once all the sweet potatoes were peeled, Li Xiuxian washed her hands and intended to go back to her room for a rest as well. However, Tian Caihua spoke up. “Second Sister-in-law, you handle dinner tonight! I’m going back to dry the sweet potatoes. Also, remember to bring in the paddy and beans before the sun goes down.”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Cook dinner for so many people all by herself? How was she supposed to managed that? And she had to bring in the rice and beans!

Tian Caihua didn’t care if she could finish it or not. She called out to Zhou Chenglei, “Chenglei, help me move these basins of sweet potatoes onto the handcart. I’ll take them back to my place to dry. With two houses being built here, there’s too much dust.”

There was no more room to dry things at the old house either. The roof and the ground were completely covered with paddy, peanuts, sesame seeds, soybeans, mung beans, black beans, and various other legumes.

“Wenguang, help your Uncle lift them.”

“No need.” Zhou Chenglei walked over, hoisted a large basin of peeled sweet potatoes, and set it on the handcart.

Seeing this, Zhou Wenguang wanted to emulate his uncle and lift a basin himself, but he couldn’t budge it!

Zhou Chenglei patted him on the shoulder. “Exercise more.”

How could a man support a household if he didn’t have any strength? Then, he hoisted another basin onto the handcart.

The handcart could only hold two large basins at most. He didn’t ask Tian Caihua why she didn’t just take the sweet potatoes over to the other house to boil and peel them there, which would have saved her from transporting them back and forth so many times.

Tian Caihua called all her sons back to help. Those several large basins of sweet potatoes would keep her busy until dark. Fortunately, she had many sons, and they were all grown enough to help.

It took three trips back and forth with the handcart to move all six large basins.

Dinner was still Li Xiuxian’s responsibility. She had no choice; she was the only one available!

Mother Zhou had gone to the pier to receive a shipment. Tian Caihua had to dry the sweet potatoes—making dried sweet potatoes wasn’t finished once they were boiled and peeled; they still had to be sliced into pieces for drying.

As for Jiang Xia, she lived the life of a princess!

Leaving aside the fact that she was currently pregnant, even normally, no one would say a word if she slept until noon and did no work. Whether she worked or not, Tian Caihua would never nitpick her.

Besides, Jiang Xia had married a good husband. The moment he saw her doing a bit of work, he immediately found an excuse to whisk her away.

Unlike Zhou Chengsen, who couldn’t stand seeing her idle and would start bark orders the moment he returned.

Li Xiuxian called out to Zhou Zhou, “Zhou Zhou, go wash the vegetables first!”

“Okay.”

Seeing this, Zhou Ying said, “Mom, I’ll wash them with Zhou Zhou.”

Li Xiuxian replied, “Don’t wash them. Didn’t you have parts of your English you couldn’t read? Go ask your Auntie. We’re going back tomorrow, so hurry up and learn as much as you can from her.”

Zhou Ying grumbled, “I don’t want to. I’ll learn after I finish washing.”

She didn’t like learning English at all!

“Then come over here and help me tend the fire!”

The weather was cold, and her daughter had never done much housework. If she got her sleeves wet washing vegetables and caught a cold, it would be a hassle.

Zhou Ying resisted, “I don’t want to! It’ll singe my hair!”

In the past, she thought tending the fire was fun and had tried it with her grandmother, only to have the flames leaping from the stove mouth singe a bit of her hair.

Zhou Zhou spoke up, “Second Auntie, let me tend the fire!”

Li Xiuxian had no choice; she couldn’t manage everything alone. She had to let Zhou Zhou tend the fire and keep an eye on the rice in the pot. She still had to climb onto the roof to collect the beans, a task Zhou Zhou couldn’t do.

For the next two hours, Li Xiuxian was exhausted, rushing between collecting the paddy, peanuts, and beans, and cooking the meal.

During dinner, Father Zhou discussed the house renovation with Zhou Chenglei. “You need to find time to buy the floor tiles and wall tiles.”

Zhou Chenglei replied, “I’ll go look in a few days.”

The doctor had recommended a week of bed rest for Jiang Xia. He would wait a few days before taking her to pick out the ones she liked.

Father Zhou asked again, “The doors, wardrobes, desks, and furniture—are you buying them ready-made or hiring a carpenter? If you’re hiring a carpenter, you need to arrange it in advance. That work will take at least a month.”

Jiang Xia said, “I’ll buy them ready-made. I already caught sight of a few sets I liked while in Suicheng.”

While wandering around the Canton Fair, Jiang Xia had spotted several sets of furniture she liked.

Li Xiuxian was surprised. “You bought them already? Is it very cheap to buy them at the Canton Fair?”

Jiang Xia clarified, “I haven’t bought them yet, I just picked them out. I’ll go to their factory to order them in a few days.”

She had picked out sofas and coffee tables for both floors, as well as beds, wardrobes, and desks for all the rooms. She had originally planned to have Zhou Chenglei look at them on the last day to see if he liked them, and if so, they would place the order.

But since an accident had occurred, they would have to find time to go directly to the factory.

Li Xiuxian suddenly became interested. “Ordering from the factory must be cheaper, right? Are you planning to buy a sofa?”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Yes, but I don’t know if it will be cheaper yet.”

When she was looking at the furniture, she had happened to help them as a translator and helped them close two large orders. The factory director had said he would give her the factory-gate price if she wanted to buy furniture.

But that was just something said at the time; who knew if he would still honor it.

“Buying from a factory will definitely save a lot of money. Ready-made furniture is so expensive. For our house in town, I hired a carpenter to make two beds, a dining table and chairs, one large and one small wardrobe, a desk, and a bookshelf. It wasn’t even that many items, and it cost over five hundred yuan. The labor for a carpenter is expensive!”

Li Xiuxian continued, “When are you going to order the furniture? I’ll go with you and take a look. I want to buy a sofa set for the living room.”

Currently, their living room back in town didn’t even have a proper sofa or coffee table. There was only a low-legged eight immortals table and a long bamboo chair. It didn’t even look as nice as the old house’s layout; it didn’t match at all!

One of the teachers at her school had bought a fabric sofa set for her home, and it looked so cozy and comfortable in the room! She wanted one too.

“Alright, let’s go next Sunday then.”

Hearing this, Tian Caihua also chimed in, “Then I’ll go and take a look too!”

They were all going to have sofas; she didn’t want to be left behind! She absolutely had to keep up with Li Xiuxian.

Besides, if she didn’t go, and Jiang Xia happened to give Li Xiuxian a sofa set as a gift, wouldn’t she be missing out? She was going, even if it killed her!

Li Xiuxian added, “If we buy so many sets, we should be able to get them cheaper, right? We must bargain when the time comes!”

Then she wondered… since Jiang Xia was so rich, would she perhaps pay for their sofas while she was at it?

Chapter 327: I Can’t Bear to Look!

After dinner, Zhou Chenglei gave Zhou Chengxin and Zhou Chengsen each a woven sack filled with items, explaining that they were specialties brought back from Suicheng.

Once everyone had retired to their rooms for the night and Li Xiuxian had finished her bath, she began rummaging through the woven sack to see what was inside.

There was a leg of Jinhua ham, two bags of sausages and cured meat, and two bottles of alcohol—one bottle of imported spirits and one bottle of ginseng liquor.

Zhou Chengsen came back after his shower and saw Li Xiuxian sorting through the things Chenglei had given them. “Still not sleeping? What are you digging through all that for?”

Li Xiuxian set the items aside one by one. “The Fourth Brother gave the Big Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law more than he gave us. There was even a sweater in the Eldest Sister-in-law’s bag.”

Although it had been hidden inside a woven sack, Li Xiuxian had intentionally brushed against Tian Caihua’s bag and felt a sweater inside.

There was no sweater in her own bag!

Zhou Chengsen didn’t even bother to respond. He used a dry towel to rub his hair and lay down on the bed.

Seeing him stay silent, Li Xiuxian continued, “Jiang Xia even bought a silk duvet for Zhou Zhou! I saw Fourth Brother go and put it on Zhou Zhou’s bed. Yingying is still using a cotton quilt that’s nearly ten years old. I’ve heard that silk duvets are soft, breathable, and incredibly warm to sleep under.”

Zhou Chengsen finally spoke up. “Then why don’t you just go to the department store and buy a silk duvet for Yingying when you have the time?”

Li Xiuxian was nearly fuming with rage!

Did he even understand the point she was trying to make?

“Don’t you think Jiang Xia is being too biased? Zhou Zhou and Yingying are both her nieces. Why did Jiang Xia only buy one for Zhou Zhou and not for Yingying?”

Zhou Chengsen looked at her. “Can Zhou Zhou and Yingying even be compared? Yingying has us, but who does Zhou Zhou have?”

Li Xiuxian pursed her lips, wanting to say that Zhou Zhou had a mother too! He shouldn’t talk as if Zhou Zhou were an orphan!

However, she didn’t say it aloud. Instead, she couldn’t help but offer a biting remark. “I’ve realized you truly are broad-minded; you don’t care about anything! Your younger brother and his wife treat the Eldest Brother’s family better, and you don’t care! Your younger brother and his wife are biased toward your nephew and niece while ignoring your own daughter, and you still don’t care!”

Zhou Chengsen was thoroughly fed up. “What is there to care about? When Chenglei and Xiao Xia were at the Canton Fair during the busy farming season, the Big Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law were the ones who helped harvest the grain and dry it. Isn’t it only right for them to give a bit more to the Eldest Brother and his wife? That’s called basic social reciprocity! They understand how the world works. Besides, I saw what Xiao Xia bought for all the kids—it was all the same. Where is the favoritism?”

“Furthermore, Xiao Xia can buy things for whoever she wants. What business is it of yours? It’s just like how you buy this and that for your brothers and sisters-in-law back at your parents’ house, but never buy anything for the nieces and nephews of your husband’s family, or for my brothers and their wives, or for Chenglei and Xiao Xia. Have any of them ever criticized you?!”

“You think the Eldest Sister-in-law doesn’t criticize me? Every time I come back, she gives me an attitude!…” Li Xiuxian couldn’t help but recount what happened that afternoon.

“After the crops from our few mu of land were harvested, we only took a tiny bit, and the rest was given to her. And you didn’t exactly fail to help during the busy season. Didn’t you take leave and come back to help harvest rice for two days? Every time you come back, you give twenty yuan to Mom and Dad for living expenses! Yet those two stay there making sarcastic remarks about us just taking things without working! Saying we’re unfilial! Didn’t I spend the whole afternoon peeling sweet potato skins? Didn’t I make dinner? Didn’t I help with lunch? Weren’t the things drying outside gathered by me?”

Zhou Chengsen grew extremely impatient. “Fine. Next time the busy season comes, you come back and plant the fields yourself! Weeding, fertilizing, watering, and pest control—do it all yourself! Come autumn harvest, you harvest everything yourself, dry it, and transport it all back to town. You don’t have to give a single grain to my parents or the Eldest Brother’s family. Is that fine? You think they actually want it? Others would think you’d given them a fortune by the way you talk! I’ll tell my parents tomorrow that we’ll farm our own land next year! We don’t need their help!”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

“Since you think my brother is biased and you have such big complaints every time you return, don’t bother buying fruit next time! Those biscuits and fruit you bought—take them back with you tomorrow! And don’t take these things Xiao Xia gave us either! From now on, you handle the social gifts for your own family yourself; I won’t get involved! I’ll handle my own siblings’ social gestures myself, and you don’t need to worry about it! You don’t even have to come back to the village with me anymore! I’ll bring Yingying back by myself! Does that satisfy you?” After finishing, Zhou Chengsen pulled up the quilt, covered his head, and went to sleep.

Li Xiuxian: “…”

In the room next door.

Jiang Xia was already sound asleep, unaware that the gifts Zhou Chenglei bought for his brothers had sparked another domestic dispute.

Jiang Xia had indeed given more items to Tian Caihua. It wasn’t just an extra cashmere sweater; Jiang Xia had also given her a set of skincare products.

She had noticed today that Tian Caihua’s hands were chapped, with many places on her ten fingers bleeding and rough.

During the days she and Zhou Chenglei were away, Tian Caihua had taken care of all the fieldwork.

Harvesting so much grain, hauling it in, and drying it was no easy task.

It was impossible for Jiang Xia not to show some appreciation.

Moreover, the family was also raising a cow, ducks, and geese, all of which were being kept over at Tian Caihua’s place. Usually, Guangzong, Yaozu, and the other boys would go out to tend to them after school.

Jiang Xia felt it was only right to be a bit more generous toward them.

Zhou Chenglei had also prepared identical sets of gifts for Great-Grandma’s family. Jiang Xia had even bought a set of clothes for Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa, and Zhou Jie. She bought a tin of Vanishing Cream for Great-Grandma and a set of skincare products for He Xinghuan.

This was because Great-Grandpa was helping oversee the construction of their house, and He Xinghuan was handling the production of the small fried fish by herself. Great-Grandma’s entire family constantly helped them out.

All of this made them worthy of a gift from Jiang Xia to express her gratitude.

When Zhou Chenglei returned after his shower, the room next door belonging to Zhou Chengsen and his wife was already silent.

He walked into his own room and saw that Jiang Xia was already asleep.

Since he had taken a cold shower and his body was freezing, he didn’t get into the bed immediately for fear of waking Jiang Xia. Instead, he sat at the desk, opened a book, and began his translation work.

He worked late into the night until he had finished translating the remaining half of the book before finally going to bed.

The scaffolding on the new house was taken down three days later. Great-Grandpa said they should wait until the bricks of the exterior wall had hardened before dismantling it. Having the scaffolding up made any necessary repairs easier, and it wouldn’t interfere with the interior plastering anyway.

With the scaffolding up, the light inside was a bit dim, but it wasn’t a major issue.

Because the windows of their house were quite large and there were no obstructions around, the natural lighting was excellent.

Once the scaffolding was removed, the full appearance of the house was revealed.

A brand new, primarily white multi-story building finished in granite-plaster stood before everyone.

The overhangs were tiled with rectangular green tiles. The balcony railings were fitted with primarily green patterned tiles, featuring pink interlocking diamond patterns.

The villagers passing by saw the scaffolding being removed and stopped to admire the sight.

Looking at such a house, their voices were filled with envy. “Yongfu, your house turned out so beautiful. It looks just like those high-rise buildings in the city!”

“That exterior wall must have cost a lot of money, right?”

“It’s gorgeous! The layout inside this house is great, too.”

…

Wen Wan happened to walk by as well. She took one look at the two houses, turned around, and left immediately!

The difference was too great; she couldn’t bear to look!

She deeply regretted building her house right next to theirs!

Chapter 328: The New House Layout Was a Miscalculation

Wen Wan returned home with a dark expression. She immediately went to the wardrobe, pulled out a tin box where she kept their money, and began counting.

Zhou Guohua had just returned from the sea and was about to find some clothes for a shower. Seeing Wen Wan with the money box out, he asked curiously, “What’s wrong? Is there something you want to buy?”

After finishing her count, Wen Wan realized that including her own savings, they only had 744 yuan and 40 cents.

“How is there so little money?”

Zhou Guohua explained, “We’ve been building the house and making net cages recently. Expenses have been high.”

Plus, there was still a large bill for cement and sand, and the workers’ salaries from last month hadn’t been paid yet!

“Why do you ask? Is there something you need?”

Wen Wan stated flatly, “I want to buy land.”

Zhou Guohua was baffled. “What do we need to buy land for?”

Now that they had undergone the family division, they had been allotted their own land. Their house was already being built, so they didn’t lack a residential plot. What else was there to buy?

“That stretch of land behind our new house—I want to buy it. Go ask your sister how much one mu costs.”

Zhou Guohua frowned. “That area is overgrown with weeds and floods every year. You can’t even build a house there. Why buy it?”

“That land will be valuable in the future! I dreamed that Zhou Chenglei bought it and made a fortune. Go ask your sister quickly; we need to buy it before anyone else does! Are you going or not?”

Zhou Guohua couldn’t win against her, so he could only concede. “Alright, I’ll go ask. But the money for the cement and sand hasn’t been paid, and we still owe over three hundred yuan for the workers’ salaries from last month.”

Wen Wan grew impatient. “Just go and ask how much it is per mu first! If we don’t have enough, we’ll borrow it. Either way, we have to buy that land as soon as possible.”

Fearing that her agitation might be bad for the baby, Zhou Guohua quickly agreed. “I’m going now. Don’t get yourself worked up.”

“Then hurry. I’m buying this land so our son’s life won’t be worse than anyone else’s in the future. If we’re short on cash, borrow it from your father.”

“Fine, I’ll go ask.”

“Come on, I’ll accompany you to look at the layout of the house.” Once the scaffolding had been completely dismantled and the site cleared, and after the villagers had left, Zhou Chenglei went back to their room to call Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia capped her fountain pen and walked over with him.

The first floor of the new house featured a layout with three rooms and two halls, with the two halls situated in the center.

The entrance led directly into the living room, followed by the dining room, one after the other. Two bedrooms were located to the left and right of the living room.

To the left of the dining room was the master suite with an attached bathroom, while the right side contained the stairwell and a common bathroom.

Originally, they had only planned for two rooms on the first floor. However, since there were no area restrictions for rural housing in this era, the internal floor area reached 130 square meters. With such ample space and no need to include a kitchen inside the main structure, they ended up with three rooms on the first floor.

To make furniture placement easier, they had left corridors on both sides to access the rooms, so the bedroom doors weren’t visible from the main halls.

The dining room had a large window, and there were windows at the ends of both corridors. Every room was spacious with large windows, ensuring the entire house was filled with natural light.

Zhou Chenglei led Jiang Xia to the second floor.

The second floor only had a small living room for daily use, which allowed for four bedrooms.

A massive L-shaped balcony extended from the living room, offering a view of the sea. The master bedroom was an ensuite located in the southeast corner; its windows also looked out over the ocean.

One other guest room also had a sea view, while the others did not.

While the first-floor rooms could technically see the sea, the view was partially obstructed by trees and wasn’t nearly as expansive. Once the courtyard wall was built, the view from the first floor would be completely blocked.

Jiang Xia looked out from the master bedroom window. The early winter sky was cloudless, and the distant sea was a vivid blue. Where the sea met the sky, the horizon stretched wide and open, making one feel relaxed and happy just looking at it.

Jiang Xia said with delight, “The view in the morning must be beautiful.”

“Mhm, you’ll be able to see the sunrise over the sea.” Zhou Chenglei stood beside her, admiring the same scenery. “The room next door also has a sea view. We can use it as a study later.”

Jiang Xia replied, “We’ll ask Zhou Zhou which room she wants first.”

Zhou Chenglei actually didn’t want anyone living in the room next door; he only wanted it to be a study. It wasn’t that he was unwilling to let the child have the room, but he was worried that the noise he and Jiang Xia made would be heard.

That was why he had specifically designed the master bedroom so that there was no bedroom directly beneath it—only the stairwell.

However, Jiang Xia wasn’t thinking as much as he was; she simply wanted the child to have the room with the best view.

Zhou Chenglei suggested, “Isn’t there a third floor? The children can stay there.”

Once their own children were born, he planned to have them stay on the third floor or the first floor.

Jiang Xia countered, “Climbing so many stairs is tiring and a hassle!”

Zhou Chenglei couldn’t help but grumble inwardly: How tiring can climbing two flights of stairs be for a kid?

He thought about how hard he usually had to struggle to stay quiet for fear of being overheard. If he had known, he would have only put one bedroom on the second floor.

He had miscalculated!

“Let’s go look at the third floor,” Jiang Xia said, heading toward the stairs.

Since she hadn’t seen the doctor yet and he didn’t know if her condition had stabilized, Zhou Chenglei was afraid that climbing too many stairs would be bad for her. He simply picked her up and carried her upstairs.

Jiang Xia was startled and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. “What are you doing? I can walk by myself.”

“Didn’t you say climbing stairs is tiring?”

Jiang Xia: “…”

Seeing her speechless, Zhou Chenglei’s eyes and the corners of his brows crinkled with a smile.

He finally set her down when they reached the third floor. The layout of the third floor was identical to the second, but the view was even better. At this height, one could see much further.

Jiang Xia took Zhou Chenglei’s hand and walked around. “The sea view from the third-floor master bedroom is even better. There are no trees blocking it at all.”

Zhou Chenglei asked, “Should we live on the third floor then?” It was much quieter.

Jiang Xia shook her head. “No, I’m too lazy to climb that far!” No matter how beautiful the scenery was, she wouldn’t be admiring it every single day.

“When you don’t want to climb, I can carry you up.”

Jiang Xia didn’t bother responding to him and headed for the stairs. “Let’s check out the roof.”

Zhou Chenglei picked her up again. “Don’t walk too much for now. We’ll go to Dr. Gao’s tomorrow to see if everything has stabilized.”

Hearing that, Jiang Xia let him have his way. She pointed to the wall above the stair landing. “Is that the water tank?”

“Yes.”

The height of the stairwell between the third floor and the roof was particularly high. The water tank was built there, with the same length and width as the stair landing and a depth of 1.5 meters.

Considering weight-bearing issues and water quality, the tank wasn’t built to be massive. A full tank would last about a day, and once it was empty, they could just use the pump to refill it, which was very convenient.

They reached the rooftop and exited the stairwell into a semi-open platform designed for rain and sun protection. Next to it was a room intended for use as a granary.

For this three-and-a-half-story house, this room and the platform constituted the “half-floor,” covered by concrete floor slabs. There were no stairs leading above this section, but a ladder could be used to reach the top of the water tank if needed.

“This rain shelter is very convenient. We often need to dry fish at home, so if it rains, we’ll have an extra place to keep them,” Jiang Xia noted.

“Mhm.” The wind was strong on the roof, so Zhou Chenglei took off his jacket, draped it over Jiang Xia, and helped her button it.

“You don’t need to button it.” Jiang Xia pulled the jacket tight with her hands and walked to the edge of the roof wall.

Looking out from the rooftop, the field of vision was even more expansive. On one side, she could see the sea, and on the other, the houses in the town.

However, this was only the case for now. In the future, once the land in front was requisitioned, this house might be blocked by high-rise buildings or even be requisitioned itself.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xia looked at Zhou Chenglei. “Is land in the village expensive?”

Chapter 329: Land

“It’s not expensive.” Zhou Chenglei looked at the overgrown wasteland ahead; he had been eyeing this land for a long time.

He explained to Jiang Xia, “This area is prone to flooding in the summer—it gets inundated almost every year. The villagers won’t build houses here, and they won’t plant anything either. Our production team has few people but plenty of land, so we aren’t short of space. In the past, the production team focused mainly on going out to sea for fishing, and the villagers are used to that lifestyle. No one is willing to farm this soil.”

Including the house they lived in now, there was a risk of flooding if a major typhoon hit.

However, such events were rare, occurring perhaps once every decade or even several decades. One had happened about seven or eight years ago, which was why the villagers had started building their houses further and further from the shore.

Jiang Xia nodded. “I wonder how much it costs per mu.”

Zhou Chenglei asked her, “Do you want to buy land?”

The deposit for their boat had been earned at the Canton Fair, and the large boat had brought in a good income from its recent trips. They currently had over 200,000 yuan in hand. If Jiang Xia wanted to do it, he would go to the production team and inquire.

This land all belonged to the production team.

“I do,” Jiang Xia nodded.

Zhou Chenglei felt the same. “If we’re buying, let’s buy a significant amount. A small plot won’t be of much use.”

“Mhm, let’s buy a lot. If we put down 200,000 yuan, how much can we get?”

Zhou Chenglei squeezed her hand gently; once again, they were of the same mind. “I’ll go ask in a bit.”

He shared his thoughts: “Regardless of how much we can get, I want to first buy the spots with the most beautiful ocean views and the safest stretches of the beach.”

Therefore, he didn’t intend to buy one continuous plot, but rather separate areas with prime locations.

“This area right in front of us, and that area by the neighboring village.” Zhou Chenglei pointed into the distance.

Jiang Xia followed his finger. She wasn’t very familiar with the production team’s beaches, as she rarely went out to wander around.

Standing on the roof, Zhou Chenglei pointed out each piece of land he wanted to buy.

“You decide which plots to buy. Atchoo…!”

The wind was too strong! Fearing Jiang Xia would catch a cold, Zhou Chenglei stopped talking. “Let’s go down.”

“Okay.” Jiang Xia’s nose was just itchy, not because she was cold, but the house wasn’t renovated yet; aside from the view, there wasn’t much to see.

When they got back, she needed to think about how to make the courtyard beautiful.

As for the interior decoration, Jiang Xia planned to just stick with simple white-washed walls using lime water. She didn’t want to add too much, fearing that the formaldehyde levels would exceed safety limits.

After all, there would be two children in the house later!

Jiang Xia subconsciously touched her abdomen.

Ever since she found out she was pregnant, she would instinctively touch her belly whenever she thought about the babies. she wondered if other expectant mothers were the same.

“Does your stomach hurt again?” Zhou Chenglei picked her up with one arm and felt her abdomen.

Jiang Xia had been experiencing occasional abdominal pain lately.

“No.”

Tian Caihua happened to come up at that moment. “…”

Zhou Chenglei explained, “Xiaxia is feeling a bit uncomfortable.”

Jiang Xia said, “Put me down first.”

Zhou Chenglei set her on her feet.

Tian Caihua pretended not to see the display of affection and praised, “This house you built is truly wonderful. There’s even a pavilion on the roof! It’ll be so convenient for drying things!”

As she walked up, the more she looked, the more envious she became—and the more bitter. She was so jealous she was practically turning into a jar of pickled vegetables!

Jiang Xia smiled. “A-Lei just thought it would be convenient for drying fried fish.”

“A-Lei certainly has a sharp mind. Why didn’t you put this much thought into the layout of the previous house?” Tian Caihua commented sourly, then walked over to the edge of the wall to look around.

If she had known, she wouldn’t have chosen to build her house over there.

Building on this plot would have been so much better! The scenery was beautiful! And it was close to the old house.

Look at Jiang Xia now—she essentially had two houses at her disposal!

The old house could be used for farm tools, storage, and raising poultry, while the new house was for living. Keeping them separate like that was clean and free of odors—so comfortable! Most importantly, they were close together and very convenient.

Zhou Chenglei didn’t bother responding to her. Regarding the previous house, he had received a letter saying the family planned to build just before he went on a mission. At that time, he was writing his final testament; he was about to head out and didn’t know if he would make it back alive. He only had enough time to ask a comrade to mail the money home. He didn’t even have time to reply to the letter, let alone think about the layout.

Jiang Xia said, “If you don’t like yours, Sister-in-law, you can just build another one. Then you can have whatever layout you want!”

Tian Caihua: “…”

Did Jiang Xia think building a house was like planting vegetables—that if you didn’t like them, you could just pull them up, plow the land, and plant again?

Zhou Chenglei was afraid Jiang Xia would get annoyed by Tian Caihua. “Sister-in-law, we’re going down now. Take your time looking.”

“Alright.” Tian Caihua looked down at the old house from her high vantage point.

Viewed from above, the old house’s courtyard no longer looked like it used to. It had concrete flooring, a grape trellis, a courtyard pump, flower beds, and fruit trees. It was clean, vibrant, and possessed an atmosphere that Tian Caihua couldn’t quite name.

In short, it looked comfortable no matter how you looked at it!

Compared to the neighboring courtyards, the old house looked the most inviting. It wasn’t just the courtyard; the interior of the house had also been decorated very comfortably by Jiang Xia.

Tian Caihua was starting to feel a bit disgusted with the courtyard she was currently living in. It had nothing but junk.

No, she had to plant some flowers and fruit trees too.

So, she hurried down after them. “Xiao Xia, are you going to plant fruit trees and flowers in the courtyard of the new house too? When are you planting them? Buy a few fruit trees and flower seedlings for me as well, I want to plant some.”

Jiang Xia replied, “I don’t plan to plant fruit trees here at the new house, just flowers.”

There were already several fruit trees at the old house, which was enough. Besides, if they were buying land, they wouldn’t have money for anything else right away. They could plant fruit trees on that land later.

“Then help me buy some of the same fruit trees as the old house!”

“I’m not sure if they have any, I’ll ask.” Jiang Xia didn’t commit immediately.

“Then remember to ask.” Tian Caihua followed behind the two of them. “A-Lei, are you going out to sea tomorrow? The scaffolding has been taken down.”

“Not tomorrow. I’m taking Jiang Xia to the city to see the doctor tomorrow, and we’ll pick out floor tiles while we’re there.”

Tian Caihua sighed!

Not going to sea again!

Back at the old house, Jiang Xia noticed the pot of strawberries she had planted. Two or three strawberries had grown larger, and one of them was white with a hint of red.

Jiang Xia suddenly had a craving. “Zhou Chenglei, pick that strawberry for me to taste.”

Zhou Chenglei glanced at it. “It’s not ripe yet. It’ll be better if we wait until the day after tomorrow.”

Jiang Xia knew that, of course. “But I just want to eat it now.”

Zhou Chenglei: “…”

He walked over, picked it, washed it, and handed it to her.

Jiang Xia took it with a smile and bit off the tip. It wasn’t sweet; it was sour, and the strawberry fragrance wasn’t very strong yet.

But Jiang Xia still thought it was delicious.

After finishing it, she looked at the other two that hadn’t finished growing or ripening yet. She looked at them longingly.

Zhou Chenglei: “…”

“Do you want more? Should I pick the other big one for you?”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “Never mind, I’ll eat them in a couple of days.”

Once the strawberries were fully red, they would be more fragrant and taste better.

Zhou Chenglei let her be, as he also felt that strawberry wasn’t ready to be eaten. “I’m going to the production team to ask about the price of the land. You go back to the room and rest for a bit.”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Go ahead!”

Chapter 330: A Little Expensive

Zhou Guohua walked out of the production team office.

It was exactly when the fishing boats were returning to the harbor, and the pier was bustling with activity.

Zhou Bingqiang had just finished selling his fish and was preparing to head home when he spotted his youngest son walking out from the production team.

“Guohua,” he called out, stopping him.

Hearing his father’s voice, Zhou Guohua turned back. “Dad, back from the sea? How was the catch today?”

Zhou Bingqiang chuckled. “Not bad at all! Sold for over two hundred yuan.”

His luck had finally turned lately! He could clearly feel things getting better day by day.

Today was especially good; a single boat had brought in over two hundred. It had been a long time since he’d earned that much!

After performing the ritual to ward off his “bad luck,” his fortune had finally returned!

These days, Zhou Bingqiang rotated between helping his sons out at sea, giving each of them a day of his help.

Zhou Guohua smiled upon hearing this. “That’s quite impressive!”

“And you? How much did you make today?”

Zhou Guohua grinned. “Not bad either, over sixty yuan.”

“That is good,” Zhou Bingqiang smiled. “What were you doing at the production team?”

Zhou Guohua replied, “Xiao Wan wants to buy that plot of land behind the new house. I asked my husband’s sister to help inquire about the price. But it’s two thousand yuan for just one mu. It’s a bit expensive.”

Zhou Bingqiang frowned. “What for? That area gets flooded every year; nothing grows well there.”

Zhou Guohua didn’t dare tell his father that it was Wen Wan’s idea based on her “dreams.” Nowadays, his father wouldn’t touch anything suggested by Wen Wan’s dreams.

“I was thinking of buying it to raise chickens and pigs; it would be convenient. Xiao Wan is pregnant now and can’t stand the smell of chicken droppings.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Bingqiang immediately said, “Two thousand yuan is way too expensive. Why waste money like that? Do you even have enough? Have you paid the workers yet? What about the cement and sand? The village land belongs to the villagers anyway. If you want to raise chickens, just use the leftover bricks and stones from building the house to put up a shed. Have your mother cut some bamboo to fence it off, and that’ll be that!”

In this era, if someone cleared and used unclaimed wasteland in the village for a long time, it was tacitly understood to be theirs to use indefinitely. In the future, if the government ever requisitioned the land, the land value would go to the village committee, but the compensation for “young crops” would go to the villagers.

Thus, in some places, villagers would plant trees everywhere to occupy land, hoping to snag a chunk of crop compensation if development ever came.

Zhou Guohua didn’t really want to buy it either, mostly because his expenses were already too high and he was short on cash. His husband’s sister had also told him there was no need to buy it—just fence it off and use it. “Then I’ll talk to Mom and have her help me put up a chicken coop behind the new house. I’ll raise some chickens for Xiao Wan to eat during her post-birth confinement.”

“Good idea. Tell your mother to hatch some chicks too. Get them started now so they can be moved to your coop once they’re bigger.”

The father and son chatted as they walked home.

Once inside, Zhou Guohua went to his room.

Wen Wan asked impatiently, “How did it go? How much per mu?”

Zhou Guohua answered, “Two thousand.”

Wen Wan was shocked. “That expensive?”

Fearing she would push him to buy it immediately, Zhou Guohua lied, “Yeah. I borrowed some money from Dad, Big Brother, and Second Brother and bought it. The production team asked what it was for, and I said for chickens. I’ll have Mom go over and build a coop so we can raise some chickens for your post-birth confinement.”

Wen Wan smiled at that. “Tell Mom not to build the coop too close to our new house. The smell of a chicken coop gets really pungent when it rains!”

“Will do. I’ll go tell her.”

When Zhou Bingqiang’s wife heard about building a chicken coop behind the new house, she agreed instantly. “Alright, I’ll go set it up tomorrow!”

She intended to fence off a large area. She didn’t want Zhou Yongfu’s family building their own coops or pigsties right behind them later—that would smell awful.

Zhou Chenglei returned home two hours later, only to find the two unripe strawberries gone.

Zhou Chenglei: “…”

He took the basket hanging from the motorcycle handlebar and walked toward the well.

Jiang Xia was sitting in bed, leaning against the headboard while working on a translation. When she got tired, she would lie down for a bit.

She heard the motorcycle, but after waiting a while without seeing Zhou Chenglei enter the room, she got up and walked out. Just as she entered the living room, she saw Zhou Chenglei bringing in a bowl of strawberries.

Jiang Xia’s eyes lit up. “Where did these come from?”

“Picked them at Uncle Quan’s house in the next village.” He had asked everyone in their village, but no one grew strawberries. Someone eventually told him that a family in Wen Village had some, so he went to check it out.

However, they only had a few plants for their kids to snack on. There were only a handful left, and they were semi-ripe; the ripe ones had already been eaten by the children.

If he had known, he would have planted a whole patch of strawberries himself.

Jiang Xia picked up a strawberry to feed to Zhou Chenglei. “What did the production team say?”

Zhou Chenglei caught her wrist, took the strawberry, removed the stem, and popped it into her mouth. “I don’t care for them, you eat. It’s two thousand yuan per mu. Not cheap.”

Jiang Xia didn’t hesitate. “Then we buy it.”

“Yeah. Because we’re buying a large amount and it involves land from other villages, we have to file an application at the town office. We also need the consent of the other villagers.”

He planned to write the application tonight. Tomorrow, when he went to the city, he would take a detour through the town to submit the paperwork.

Father Zhou and Mother Zhou returned from outside carrying a bucket of fish.

They were all high-quality fish they had scouted from the pier specifically for Jiang Xia.

Father Zhou brought the bucket inside to show Jiang Xia, asking if she wanted them steamed or pan-fried. When he overheard the conversation, he asked curiously, “What do you need an application for?”

Zhou Chenglei replied, “I’m planning to buy two plots of land.”

Jiang Xia added, “We want to buy the land behind our new house.”

Father Zhou immediately voiced his support. “Buying land is good! From the earth sprouts white jade; from the land comes gold. It’s a good idea to buy some land. By buying the plot behind the house, no one will be able to block our family’s feng shui in the future.”

The land that Wealth-bringer had taken a liking to was surely a treasure trove of feng shui!

“Buy it!”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Dad, you put that perfectly!”

From the earth sprouts white jade; from the land comes gold.

In the future, land would literally be worth its weight in gold.

Mother Zhou didn’t care much for those details, nor did she really understand them. Regardless, having the money to buy land was always a good thing.

Right now, her entire heart was set on taking care of Jiang Xia and the baby in her womb.

She asked Jiang Xia, “Xiaxia, should I steam the Leopard Coral Grouper or braise it? Or would you like it sweet and sour?”

Jiang Xia glanced at the haul: there was a Leopard Coral Grouper, several Small Yellow Croakers, some miscellaneous fish, and several mantis shrimp as long as an arm. “Mom, just a simple steam and blanch is fine. I can eat anything. Do you want some strawberries?”

Jiang Xia held out the bowl.

“I won’t. You eat them. I’ll go steam the fish then; steaming it keeps the sweetness.” Mother Zhou carried the buckets out, full of enthusiasm to prepare a nutritious meal for Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia ate two more strawberries and left the remaining three for Zhou Zhou.

When Zhou Zhou got home from school and finished his homework, he had already been called out by the village kids to play.

The next morning at eight o’clock, Zhou Chenglei pushed his motorcycle into the yard.

Mother Zhou asked, “Where did you go so early? You left before dawn.”

Mother Zhou had woken up at five and noticed her son had already ridden off.

“Xiaxia wanted strawberries. I went to Jiang Yang’s place to pick some.”

Riding a motorcycle to Jiang Yang’s took an hour and a half one way.

Zhou Chenglei set down a large basket of strawberries hanging from the front of the bike. On the back rack was another crate filled with other fruits and several fruit tree saplings that Jiang Yang had given him.

Zhou Chenglei had also brought back many strawberry runners.

Mother Zhou hurried over to help unload them.

Jiang Xia heard the bike and walked out, only to see a massive basket of strawberries and a whole crate of fruit.

She didn’t even know what to say to him.

His clothes were likely damp from the morning mist.

“You went to Jiang Yang’s that early? Weren’t you afraid of disturbing them?”

“It wasn’t a disturbance. I called him yesterday.” He unstrapped his helmet.

It was a cloudy day, and the morning air was thick with moisture. Jiang Xia reached out to touch his clothes; sure enough, they were damp. “Quick, go take a bath. There’s hot water in the iron pot.”

Jiang Xia turned to find him a change of clothes.

Zhou Chenglei pointed to the runners in the crate. “Mom, when you have time, plant these strawberries in the vegetable garden. Plant a few in the flower beds in our courtyard too. I’m taking Xiaxia to the city to see the doctor in a bit.”

“Are these fruit trees for the new house?”

“No, those are for Big Sister-in-law. she wanted to plant some.”

“Alright. When you and Xiaxia go to the city, drive carefully. Pick the better roads. Xiaxia can’t handle any rough jolts right now. I’ll go boil a bowl of ginger soup for you.”

Zhou Chenglei gave a quick nod before heading to the room to take the clothes Jiang Xia had found for him and go bathe.

After his bath and breakfast, the sun finally came out. Only then did he start the motorcycle and set off with Jiang Xia toward the city, stopping at the town office on the way to submit their application.

Chapter 331: More Than One Child?

Zhou Chenglei didn’t dare drive the motorcycle too fast, so it was already 11:00 AM by the time they reached the city.

He found a place to park and led Jiang Xia into the hospital to find Dr. Gao.

The military hospital wasn’t particularly crowded. Since Zeng Yuan had transferred to the otolaryngology department, her section was even quieter. She had spent the entire morning in her office reading research papers on hearing loss caused by eardrum injuries. Feeling tired, she stepped out for a walk just in time to see Zhou Chenglei walking down the corridor, holding Jiang Xia’s hand.

A flash of pleasant surprise lit up her eyes as she called out, “A-Lei, what are you doing here?”

Zhou Chenglei looked at her, gave a brief nod, and continued walking.

Zeng Yuan quickly added, “I’ve transferred to the Ear, Nose, and Throat department now. Why don’t I take a look at your ear for you?”

She had transferred to the ear department specifically for him. She wanted to understand the current state of his injury and conduct targeted research based on his condition. She hoped that one day she could cure his ear and allow him to return to his former position to do what he was meant to do, rather than spending every day at home fishing.

“No need,” Zhou Chenglei replied.

Zeng Yuan pressed on, “Do you have any idea? If you don’t seek active treatment and regular check-ups now, there’s a possibility you could lose the hearing in your other ear in the future.”

Jiang Xia paused in her tracks. “Dr. Zeng, will A-Lei’s other ear be affected too?”

Zhou Chenglei gave Zeng Yuan a cold, sharp look.

Zeng Yuan avoided his gaze and looked directly at Jiang Xia. “If it’s left alone for too long without care, of course it will! As his wife, do you not care about your husband’s health at all?”

For his sake, she had specifically applied to study abroad for six months. Upon her return, she requested a transfer to this hospital just to help him recover his hearing.

And what about Zhou Chenglei? He completely ignored her, yet he cherished a woman who didn’t seem to care about his well-being at all!

Jiang Xia was speechless. “…”

Zhou Chenglei’s eyes were ice-cold as he stared at Zeng Yuan. “Don’t go pinning labels on my wife and manufacturing anxiety for her. She was never involved in my past, so how could she know the details? She only married me after everything was already a settled matter. Knowing I had a disability, she neither disliked nor abandoned me. She is bearing my children, doing the laundry, cooking, and taking care of my parents, brothers, and nieces and nephews. She is thorough and devoted in everything she does. How is that not caring for me? Please, do not call out to me next time, and stop acting like we are close. I am not close to you at all! Who are you? In what capacity do you think you can criticize my wife? You don’t have the right to utter a single word against her! She has done nothing wrong. Even if she had, neither I nor her parents would have the heart to say a word against her—we would accept it gladly. What are you to her?”

He wouldn’t even dream of saying a single negative word about Jiang Xia himself; who did this woman think she was?

Zeng Yuan was stunned into silence. “…”

A nurse passing through the corridor saw the usually haughty Dr. Zeng being rebuked until her face was flushed red and she was on the verge of tears. The nurse hurriedly ducked into an office to avoid the scene.

Having finished his piece, Zhou Chenglei put his arm around Jiang Xia’s shoulder and guided her forward. “My previous doctors told me the impact wouldn’t be significant; it likely won’t affect me until I’m old. When people get old, anyone can go hard of hearing. Not just that, your teeth might fall out and your eyesight will fade. Just don’t you dare find me repulsive when the time comes.”

Jiang Xia rolled her eyes at him.

“I’m truly fine. It can’t be cured, but it’s not as serious as she made it sound.”

Jiang Xia insisted, “We’ll find a doctor to look at it later.”

“Alright. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Dr. Gao in a bit.”

They soon arrived at Gao Jie’s office. Zhou Chenglei knocked on the door. “Dr. Gao.”

Gao Jie looked up and saw the two of them. She smiled. “I heard magpies chirping first thing this morning. I figured you two were coming to bring me good news.”

Jiang Xia greeted her with a smile, “Auntie Gao.”

Zhou Chenglei pulled out a chair and helped Jiang Xia sit down. “We are here with good news. However, ten days ago at the Canton Fair, she was hit on the back of the head by a crate and was unconscious for a night. There were signs of a threatened miscarriage, so I wanted you to take a look at her.”

Gao Jie’s expression turned professional upon hearing this. “Put your hand up here. Let me check your pulse.”

She was trained in both Western and Chinese medicine, but as an apprentice to a national master of traditional medicine, her skills in Chinese medicine were exceptional.

She checked the pulse on both of Jiang Xia’s wrists, then looked at Jiang Xia with a beaming smile. “It seems like there’s more than one child.”

Zhou Chenglei instinctively looked at Jiang Xia’s abdomen. More than one?

Surprise flashed in Jiang Xia’s eyes. “Twins?”

Gao Jie didn’t speak immediately but continued to feel the pulse. After a moment, she looked at Zhou Chenglei, her expression bordering on disbelief. “I estimate there are three.”

Jiang Xia was stunned. “…”

Three?

This… this was completely beyond her imagination!

How were there so many?

Zhou Chenglei’s stern face froze. Three?

He looked at Jiang Xia’s small frame—her waist was so thin, her belly so flat. Could it really hold three children?

At the thought, Zhou Chenglei’s heart began to race with worry.

Gao Jie asked, “Does either of your families have a history of multiple births?”

Jiang Xia hesitated. “…” She didn’t know!

She looked at Zhou Chenglei.

“Not in my family,” Zhou Chenglei replied.

As for the Jiang family, he hadn’t heard of any either. However, having lived through the wars, Mother Jiang’s parents and siblings had passed away a long time ago. No one knew for sure.

“It’s normal even without a history, though those with a family history have a higher genetic probability,” Gao Jie explained. “The pulse is still light, so I can’t be absolutely certain yet. An ultrasound won’t show much either right now. Come back in two months for an ultrasound. For now, the pulse is quite good, no major issues. Have you taken any pregnancy-stabilizing medicine?”

“The hospital prescribed some, and after I went home, my mother-in-law boiled some pregnancy-stabilizing soup for me.”

Zhou Chenglei gave Gao Jie the names of the medications the hospital had prescribed, as well as the name of the IV fluid Jiang Xia had received. He even included the recipe for Mother Zhou’s soup.

Gao Jie nodded and smiled. “That folk remedy isn’t bad.”

Then she stood up and felt Jiang Xia’s head.

The swelling from the previous injury had already gone down, but she found the spot immediately. “Is this where you were hit?”

Zhou Chenglei nodded. “Yes.”

She gently massaged the area for Jiang Xia. “Does it hurt?”

“A little,” Jiang Xia admitted.

“There’s still a little un-dissipated blood stasis…”

Zhou Chenglei’s expression changed instantly. “Will that have any effect? How can we get rid of it?”

“Don’t be nervous. It will dissipate on its own over time.”

Jiang Xia asked, “It won’t affect the babies, will it?”

Gao Jie chuckled. “No! It didn’t damage your brain, and the injury wasn’t to your stomach. You and A-Lei are both so smart; you’re bound to have intelligent and beautiful children.”

Jiang Xia smiled, realizing right after she asked that it had been a rather silly question.

Gao Jie smiled again. “Right now, the policy is to have fewer but healthier children. You two really know how to do it—three babies in one go. You have no idea how many people will be envious.”

Zhou Chenglei only envied those who had a single pregnancy. He was worried that multiple babies would make Jiang Xia suffer, and he wondered if the children would be too small and weak.

“Dr. Gao, what should we watch out for when carrying multiples?”

Jiang Xia was also a bit worried. She wasn’t sure what the medical technology of this era was capable of yet. “Will triplets be very small when they’re born? Is there any danger?”

Chapter 332: That Kid Zhou Chenglei Is Lucky

Gao Jie understood Jiang Xia’s worries. In the past, people gave birth freely, but how many of those children actually survived?

Especially for poor families who barely had enough to eat, children born during such times were often thin and frail, making them incredibly difficult to raise.

Things were better now. The fractured land was slowly recovering, everything was being rebuilt, and life wasn’t as hard as it used to be. Things would only get better from here.

Thinking of her own siblings from her childhood, Gao Jie blinked and said:

“Triplets are definitely going to be smaller and thinner than a single baby when they’re born. Because of that, you need to pay extra attention to your diet. If you can afford it, try to eat as much good food as possible: meat, eggs, fish, and milk are all fine to ensure the babies get enough nutrition. Of course, you can’t skip fruits and vegetables either. Right now, you’re eating for one but nourishing four. Also, try not to overwork yourself during the first three months. Don’t do any heavy labor and get plenty of rest. It’s perfect that winter is coming and there won’t be much farm work. Just rest more! You can also spend more time out in the sun…”

Gao Jie gave her detailed instructions. She didn’t warn her against eating too much out of fear that the babies would be too large to deliver, nor did she tell her that a pregnant woman should walk more to make labor easier.

Due to the era, pregnant women—especially those in the countryside—would do all sorts of work even with large bellies. They still went to the fields to earn work points, carried loads of water for watering vegetables, did the laundry, cooked, and farmed.

There were plenty of women who went into labor while planting seedlings or harvesting rice in the fields.

Furthermore, many women gave birth at home by hiring a midwife rather than going to a hospital.

Gao Jie added another warning: “When the time comes, you must go to the hospital to give birth. Don’t just find someone to deliver the babies at home!”

Zhou Chenglei nodded. He had already planned to bring Jiang Xia to the city to wait for delivery once her pregnancy was further along.

How could he dare let her give birth at home?

He wouldn’t even feel at ease at the town health clinic.

“Dr. Gao, I’ll have to trouble you to help Xiaxia with the delivery when the time comes.” He didn’t trust anyone else.

Gao Jie naturally agreed. “Alright. Then bring your wife to see me regularly so I can keep track of the condition of both the mother and the babies.”

“Okay.”

Gao Jie then stared at Zhou Chenglei with a very serious expression. “You cannot share a room, especially during the first three months. In the middle and late stages, it is absolutely forbidden. Restrain yourself!”

He had come to her to get “tools” and even questioned the quality of her supplies, asking where he could buy better ones. It seemed these three children were likely an “accidental surprise.”

Such accidents were rare. She felt compelled to warn him, fearing his energy was too abundant.

Jiang Xia’s face flushed slightly.

Zhou Chenglei nodded without expression.

He had never intended to do that while Jiang Xia was pregnant anyway.

He simply found it hard to control himself when it came to her. He was afraid that if he got too carried away, a single careless move might hurt her or the babies.

Therefore, it was impossible for him to want her while she was carrying their children.

He hadn’t considered it even before he knew about the multiple births, and now that his heart was full of worry, he certainly wouldn’t.

Jiang Xia thought of Zhou Chenglei’s ear problem and asked, “Auntie Gao, can A-Lei’s right ear still be cured? Will it affect his left ear?”

In Gao Jie’s professional opinion, it was basically impossible. If there were a chance, why would he have been allowed to transition to civilian work?

However, typical patients and their families didn’t like hearing the blunt truth.

As for whether it would affect the other ear…

“Sit down, let me check your pulse.”

Jiang Xia stood up and let Zhou Chenglei sit.

Zhou Chenglei supported her briefly before obediently sitting down.

Once Gao Jie checked Zhou Chenglei’s pulse, she understood a bit better why they were having triplets in one go.

“You’re in great shape. Still keeping up with your exercise?”

“Yes.”

Dr. Gao couldn’t help but add another remark: “Take it easy. You absolutely cannot share a room for these next two months!”

Jiang Xia: “…”

Zhou Chenglei: “…”

“As for your ear, with my medical skills, there is no way to cure it. It is possible that it will gradually affect the hearing in your other ear. Moreover, as people age, the ‘machine’ begins to break; the functions of various organs decline with age. So, when you get old, you might lose your hearing entirely. Ordinary elderly people get a bit hard of hearing, but your case will be more severe.”

Jiang Xia felt a bit more relieved after hearing this. By the time Zhou Chenglei got old, hearing aids would surely be available.

She didn’t know if they existed now, but since they weren’t needed yet, she didn’t ask.

“I’ll prescribe some medicine for you to take periodically. Since your body is exceptionally strong, you don’t need to take it often—just one dose a month is enough. It will help keep your ears sharp and eyes clear, and it will also help lower your fire a bit.”

Zhou Chenglei: “…”

Jiang Xia: “…”

As Gao Jie wrote the prescription, she said, “That child Zeng Yuan went abroad specifically to study and research problems like yours. Perhaps you could seek her out and let her study your condition.”

That girl was researching day and night; who knew if she would actually achieve anything?

Zhou Chenglei refused. “Just the medicine from you will be fine.”

Once Gao Jie finished the prescription, Zhou Chenglei asked Jiang Xia to wait for him in Dr. Gao’s office. He went to fill the prescription himself and planned to come back for her.

Jiang Xia asked further about what foods would be good for the babies.

Gao Jie replied, “Eat a normal diet. Eat whatever you have. Your body is in better shape than before—not too ‘hot’ or ‘cold,’ with your yin and yang in harmony. If you have the appetite, it’s best to eat a little bit of everything. Just don’t overdo it; overdoing is as bad as falling short. Especially things that are cold in nature or promote blood circulation—don’t eat too much of those.”

Every pregnant woman’s constitution was different. Some couldn’t handle watermelon, while others could eat it every day without issue.

With Jiang Xia’s constitution, Gao Jie felt she could eat a bit of everything without needing to strictly avoid specific foods. Maintaining this balanced state of yin and yang—neither too cold nor too dry—was actually better.

Gao Jie glanced at Jiang Xia’s complexion again. Her skin was white with a hint of pink, and that pinkness looked tender.

A person’s emotions affected their body.

This girl likely had a very good mindset and a decent temper.

That kid Zhou Chenglei was lucky.

Jiang Xia asked again, “My pregnancy is considered stable now, right? It won’t affect normal housework or labor?”

“It won’t. Just be careful not to tire yourself out.”

After leaving Dr. Gao’s office, Zhou Chenglei held Jiang Xia’s hand with extreme caution.

Jiang Xia was amused by his behavior.

If someone didn’t know better, they’d think she was already ten months pregnant.

Right now, the babies were just three little pearls. With current ultrasound technology, they couldn’t even be seen clearly. Her belly was flat, looking no different than usual.

“You don’t need to be so nervous. Didn’t Dr. Gao say the pregnancy is very stable? You’re making me nervous! There’s no need to hold me; I can walk on my own.” Jiang Xia pulled her hand away.

People passing by were already looking at them.

She and Zhou Chenglei were already eye-catching enough walking together; now they were drawing even more stares.

Hearing this, Zhou Chenglei tried his best to relax. He really couldn’t let it affect Jiang Xia.

He switched to just holding her hand, trying to let himself adjust to the sudden, overwhelming surprise.

“Are you hungry? Is there anything you want to eat?”

Jiang Xia: “I want to eat strawberries.”

Zhou Chenglei: “…”

Fortunately, before they had left the house, he had washed some and brought them along, fearing she might suddenly have a craving.

Inside a certain office, Zeng Yuan watched the two of them pass by the door.

Even now, the rims of Zeng Yuan’s eyes were still a bit red.

Zhou Chenglei had never spoken so much to her.

In the past, when she had treated his injuries countless times and asked him questions, his answers were always “a bit” or “it doesn’t hurt.” Sentences longer than five words were rare.

Today, he had said more than all their previous conversations combined, yet every word had been like a knife, every sentence chilling to the bone!

If it weren’t for her inability to control her feelings and her desire to help cure his ear, she would have wanted to return to the capital and quit right then!

Zeng Yuan composed herself, stood up, and walked toward Gao Jie’s office…

When she emerged from Gao Jie’s office later, Zeng Yuan looked like she had lost her soul. Gao Jie’s cheerful words echoed in her mind: “Zhou Chenglei’s wife is pregnant. It might be triplets, so he brought her over for a checkup.”

She was actually pregnant already? And so soon?

Chapter 333: Buying Floor Tiles

After leaving the hospital, Zhou Chenglei took out the strawberries for Jiang Xia to eat. He only gave her two, fearing she wouldn’t be able to finish her lunch later.

A new restaurant had opened in the city, and it was quite large. They had seen it on their way there, so Zhou Chenglei drove the motorcycle to take Jiang Xia there for a meal.

Jiang Xia did the ordering. There were many dishes she wanted to try, but in the end, she only ordered two braised squabs, a portion of stir-fried beef with tomato and egg, and a serving of greens.

Squab and beef were items they rarely ate at home.

When eating out, it was better to have things they didn’t usually get to enjoy.

Zhou Chenglei also ordered a coconut-stewed chicken soup.

Once they were full, Zhou Chenglei drove the motorcycle to take her to pick out floor tiles and wall tiles.

Luckily, they had bought the motorcycle. Moving around the city was much more comfortable than using a bicycle.

The two of them arrived at a place in the city that sold ceramics.

Jiang Xia’s first impression was a riot of colors. There were many old-fashioned patterned tiles that looked like kaleidoscopes, giving off a strong sense of the era.

Zhou Chenglei pointed to a type of red clay tile and asked Jiang Xia, “Should we use this for the First floor? It’s moisture-proof and absorbent.”

It just wasn’t very pretty and lacked patterns, so he wasn’t sure if Jiang Xia would like it.

They lived by the sea, and for several months of the year, the weather was quite damp, especially during the spring.

Currently, the floor of the old house was just packed earth, so it didn’t feel damp, but laying floor tiles was different; condensation formed easily on them.

The owner heard him and chimed in, “That’s right. These red clay tiles are the best for moisture. They’re absorbent and cheap, making them perfect for the First floor.”

Jiang Xia asked, “Are there any other moisture-proof tiles?”

“These red clay ones are the best. Currently, everyone likes terrazzo floors, like the one under my feet. It’s not as moisture-proof as the red tiles, but it still works. This style is very popular now; many people in the city are doing it. It comes in many colors, and you can even make different patterns. There’s red, green, yellow—very light tones where you can see the stone patterns. Look, isn’t it beautiful?”

“And it’s convenient. Unlike laying tiles, you don’t have to fill the grout lines after you’re done. Doesn’t this whole seamless floor look great?”

Jiang Xia didn’t really want to choose a terrazzo floor. In the future, that style would be used mostly in hospitals and schools.

“Then let’s use the red clay tiles for the First floor.” Practicality was more important than aesthetics.

Even with red clay tiles, not many people in the countryside could afford them right now; most were happy just to have a smooth cement floor.

“Alright,” Zhou Chenglei agreed, then told the owner, “We’ll use these red clay tiles for the First floor.”

Jiang Xia glanced at the other floor tiles. Most had patterns, mainly geometric or floral, and there were a few mosaic designs.

The tiles back then weren’t large. Some patterns were formed by joining four small square tiles together.

Jiang Xia didn’t particularly like gaudy styles; she preferred something simpler. However, she couldn’t just choose based on her personal taste alone.

Decorating trends changed with every era, and people of this time would certainly prefer what was currently in fashion.

She asked Zhou Chenglei, “Which style do you like? Should we pick the same for the second and third floors or something different?”

Zhou Chenglei replied, “Anything is fine with me. Just pick what you like.”

Jiang Xia was speechless. “You pick a few, and then I’ll choose from those.”

Hearing this, Zhou Chenglei realized she was overwhelmed by the options and didn’t know how to choose.

When the owner heard they had a second and third floor to finish, he knew they were big customers. He enthusiastically introduced which patterns were the newest and would look best once laid.

Zhou Chenglei ignored him. He picked out a few designs that looked pleasing to his eye—either plain, solid colors or the ones with the simplest patterns.

Conveniently, Jiang Xia also disliked complexity. From his selection, she picked a plain tile that resembled the color of wood flooring.

She also picked another style with a large dark green diamond in the center and white triangles in the four corners; this design was very characteristic of the era.

She was thinking of picking a brighter color, as children would likely enjoy it.

The wood-colored tiles were, after all, a bit too somber.

These two types of floor tiles also happened to match the two sets of sofas and cabinets she had eyed earlier.

The floor tiles would be used for both the bedrooms and the living rooms—a continuous layout.

Then they moved on to the ceramic wall tiles for the bathroom and the kitchen.

Jiang Xia chose plain white wall tiles. They were patternless and would never go out of style.

More importantly, the other patterns looked unattractive to her.

For the bathroom floor, she chose a green mosaic pattern.

“Do you want external and internal corner trims?” the owner asked.

Jiang Xia looked over. “These corner trims aren’t the same color as the tiles!”

“It’s always like that. Once they’re installed, it’s not noticeble.”

Jiang Xia thought to herself, With such a huge color difference, how could it not be noticeable?

It would be better to go without them!

“Not for now.” She would see if the tiling master could miter the edges of the tiles instead.

Zhou Chenglei pointed at a bathtub. “Should we install a bathtub on every floor?”

The owner said, “This is imported. Soaking in it is incredibly comfortable.”

Jiang Xia took a look. “No, it’s not practical.”

Zhou Chenglei said, “It’ll be convenient for bathing the children later, and for medicinal baths as well.”

When the brothers Guangzong and Yaozu were young and had a fever or a cold, his mother would often gather fresh herbs to give them a medicinal bath. After the soak, their colds would be cured.

Jiang Xia thought about it and agreed. “Then should we install one? Having too many isn’t necessary. When you’re not using it, you’ll feel like it’s just taking up space.”

Zhou Chenglei said, “Two. One on the second floor and one on the First floor.”

He wanted to install one in the bathroom attached to their bedroom for him and Jiang Xia to use.

Seeing his persistence and knowing he enjoyed baths, Jiang Xia let him have his way.

The owner was stunned. Rich! They’re definitely rich!

To install so many bathtubs… those things were incredibly expensive!

The owner asked again, “Do you want to tile the living room walls? If you tile halfway up, the walls won’t get as dirty, especially in a household with children.”

Zhou Chenglei said, “Then let’s do that.”

“Do you need toilets and squat pans? This toilet is also imported; it’s very convenient! Especially for the elderly and pregnant women, so they don’t have to squat until their legs go numb.”

This couple was so young, they probably didn’t have children yet, right?

Since they were willing to buy two bathtubs, they shouldn’t mind buying an extra toilet.

Zhou Chenglei said, “Yes.”

“And washbasins?”

“Yes.”

…

Zhou Chenglei was worried Jiang Xia would get too tired, so they finished selecting the floor and wall tiles for the entire building in an hour.

In this era, there was no such thing as a home-measurement service.

But Zhou Chenglei already knew the measurements. He provided the square footage, the owner calculated the quantities, and they paid half as a deposit.

The whole three-story house, plus the kitchen and part of the courtyard tiles, tiles for the flower beds, the bathroom fixtures for the three master bathrooms, the fixtures for the three common bathrooms, plus decorative tiles for the main entrance and courtyard gates, and the tiles for the courtyard wall… the preliminary estimate was over five thousand yuan. He wasn’t sure if that would be enough.

The main uncertainty was the courtyard wall and the courtyard itself; since they weren’t finished yet, the calculations weren’t exact.

After buying the tiles, the two of them went back to the Jiang house to visit Father Jiang and Mother Jiang. They would stay at the Jiang house tonight and return to the village tomorrow.

Zhou Chenglei had already called Father Jiang in advance.

Chapter 334: Is Showing Off a Zhou Family Trait?

During dinner, Father Jiang asked if the two of them had come for a prenatal checkup.

Earlier, when he learned that Jiang Xia had been injured and showed signs of a threatened miscarriage, Father Jiang had been very worried and even called Zhou Chenglei.

Originally, he wanted to visit his daughter, but he feared that going to their house would only add more trouble for the young couple and the rest of the family.

After some thought, he decided it was better to let his daughter focus on resting, opting to wait until they came to the city for a follow-up consultation to meet.

Zhou Chenglei placed a piece of pork rib into Jiang Xia’s bowl and said casually, “Mhm. Dr. Gao said everything is fine now. She also mentioned that it looks like triplets, so we need to be extra careful from now on.”

Jiang Xia: “…”

Is showing off just a natural trait of the Zhou family?

Father Jiang: “…”

Mother Jiang: “…”

Triplets?

Then, Father Jiang burst into a smile. “Triplets? Haha… Triplets are good! Triplets are great! Haha…”

Father Jiang was incredibly happy!

In an era where people couldn’t have many children, suddenly having three grandchildren at once—how could he not be thrilled?

Mother Jiang was also delighted. “I need to prepare more diapers and clothes.”

Father Jiang nodded. “Yes, we definitely need to prepare more. Xiaxia loved wetting the bed the most when she was little.”

Jiang Xia: “…”

Mother Jiang added, “Right! When Xiaxia was little, no matter how many diapers we prepared, it was never enough. Even at five years old, she’d wet the bed twice in one night. In the dead of winter, she’d soak the mattress so much we couldn’t even sleep on it.”

Zhou Chenglei raised his bowl and took a mouthful of rice, hiding the upward curl of his lips.

Jiang Xia: “…”

This topic needed to end.

Jiang Xia changed the subject and asked, “Dad, Mom, is there a history of multiple births in our family? The doctor said carrying multiples is usually related to genetics.”

Mother Jiang paused momentarily.

Father Jiang replied, “Your mother is a twin.”

He didn’t say much more after that and steered the conversation elsewhere. “How is your body feeling now? What did Dr. Gao say?”

“Dr. Gao said I’m fine now.” Seeing that Father Jiang was reluctant to elaborate, Jiang Xia didn’t press further. She knew that Mother Jiang’s side of the family was no longer around.

On Father Jiang’s side, there were still relatives. Jiang Xia knew he had an older brother and a sister back in their hometown.

Because of this, the family would return to their hometown every year for the Lunar New Year.

Mother Jiang said, “Even so, you can’t be careless. You need to rest more over the next two months. How about staying at home for a while? We have a maid to cook, so it’ll be convenient.”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “No need. The new house is being renovated, and I need to keep an eye on things so it doesn’t end up looking like something I don’t like.”

Father Jiang urged, “Then be careful at home. Don’t go running to the new house all the time either. Construction sites are cluttered and messy; don’t go tripping or bumping into anything.”

Zhou Chenglei promised, “Dad, Mom, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Xiaxia.”

After dinner, Father Jiang called Zhou Chenglei into the study for a chat.

Mother Jiang couldn’t help but nag Jiang Xia a few more times. “Now that you’re carrying three children, you need to be more settled in your actions. Don’t be so restless, always thinking about going here and there. Just focus on having these babies safely.”

Jiang Xia let out a yawn. “Mom, I know. Where could I possibly go with a big belly? I’m going to take a shower first.”

With that, she stood up to find her clothes.

Mother Jiang knew she didn’t like listening to lectures. She figured that once the three children were born, Jiang Xia would be so busy she wouldn’t have time to think about anything else anyway.

Furthermore, Mother Jiang had a rough idea of how much money Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei had made at the Canton Fair. Knowing they had already paid half of the deposit for their boat, she felt at ease.

Mother Jiang hadn’t expected these two children to earn so much—more than even her garment factory.

Mother Jiang went back to her room as well. She planned to write a list and have the procurement department help buy some baby-friendly fabrics.

Preparing clothes for three babies at once would take a lot of time; she had to start early.

When Jiang Xia finished her shower and came out, the living room was empty. She decided to call Jiang Dong to let him know she was safe.

Jiang Dong had been waiting.

The phone was answered quickly, but the person on the other end told her that Jiang Dong wasn’t there.

So, Jiang Xia called Zhang Fuyan to see how her leg was doing.

After the call connected, Zhang Fuyan’s sweet voice rang out, “Hello.”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Xiao Yan, it’s me. Have you eaten?”

Upon hearing Jiang Xia’s voice, Zhang Fuyan’s tone became even more cheerful. “I just ate. Jiang Dong cooked for me. He’s still here—do you want to say a few words to him?”

Then, Zhang Fuyan called out to Jiang Dong, who was washing the dishes. “Jiang Dong, Xiaxia is on the phone.”

Jiang Dong hadn’t finished the dishes yet. The weather was cold, making the dishes hard to clean; no matter how much he scrubbed, they still felt greasy. He hurriedly replied, “Wait a second, my hands are greasy. Let me wash them.”

Zhang Fuyan continued chatting with Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia asked about her leg, and she asked about Jiang Xia’s health.

After the two finished checking in on each other, Zhang Fuyan informed Jiang Xia that Ye Xian had been disciplined by the school and expelled. Her brother, Ye Fu, had taken all the blame upon himself.

Yang Qiuying was still under suspension pending investigation.

“Serves them right!” Zhang Fuyan added at the end.

Jiang Xia was both surprised and not surprised. After all, the motives of Ye Xian and Ye Fu were quite malicious, and the harm they caused was significant.

“Is Ye Xian still in the capital?”

Zhang Fuyan replied, “I don’t know. I haven’t seen her.”

At this point, Jiang Dong came over. “Xiaxia, Jiang Dong is here. Talk to him.”

Zhang Fuyan handed him the phone.

Jiang Dong took the receiver and said happily, “Sis, are you feeling better?”

“The doctor said I’m fine now. You don’t need to worry anymore.”

Hearing this, Jiang Dong finally felt relieved. “Sis, the dividends from the vacuum packaging machine and the plastic bag production line came in today. I put them into two savings accounts and gave you half.”

He had never imagined he could earn so much money at such a young age. It was simply incredible.

So, he had specially bought some groceries to come to Sister Xiao Yan’s place today to celebrate.

Celebrating the fact that he was now wealthier than his own father!

And there would be more dividends in the future.

Although the Canton Fair had ended, sales were still ongoing and doing quite well. Many people were reaching out to make purchases.

The future income looked very promising!

Jiang Xia smiled. “No need. You earned that money yourself, so keep it. Why give it to me?”

Jiang Dong insisted, “I only developed them because of the ideas and pictures you gave me. Of course I have to give you half!”

“But you’re the one who actually figured it out. I just had an idea; I wouldn’t have known how to make them. Alright, keep the money for yourself. I don’t want it. Is the rolling suitcase with the swivel wheels finished yet?”

“Almost,” Jiang Dong chuckled. He didn’t care if his sister wanted the money or not; if she wouldn’t take it, he’d save it for his niblings.

Jiang Xia added, “I have another new idea. Help me make a baby stroller. It should be quite simple. I’ll draw a sketch tonight and mail it to you tomorrow. Keep an eye out for it in a few days.”

Jiang Dong immediately agreed.

Anything for his little niblings had to be researched and developed as quickly as possible.

Zhou Chenglei stepped out of the study just then. Seeing Jiang Xia on the phone and hearing her mention a baby stroller, he asked, “Is that Jiang Dong?”

Jiang Xia nodded.

Zhou Chenglei walked toward her. “Give me the phone. I want to say a few words to him.”

Jiang Xia said to Jiang Dong, “I’ll explain how to do it in the letter. Your brother-in-law has something to say to you.”

She then handed the phone to Zhou Chenglei. “I’m going to bed first. I’m tired.”

Zhou Chenglei nodded and took the phone.

As Jiang Xia stood up, Zhou Chenglei reached out to steady her, only letting go once she was balanced.

After Jiang Xia walked away, he sat in the spot she had just vacated. His gaze followed her as he spoke into the receiver. “Xiao Dong, about that stroller your sister mentioned—you need to make it a bit bigger. Preferably big enough to fit three babies at once.”

Chapter 335: Oh No, How Do I Handle This?

The Capital

Jiang Dong hung up the phone.

Zhang Fuyan asked in astonishment, “Xiaxia is pregnant with triplets?”

Jiang Dong still looked dazed. “I guess so! He told me to make the baby stroller bigger—large enough to fit three kids!”

So, he was about to have three nephews and nieces?

“Then she must be! My god, three of them! Xiaxia is incredible! How can she be so amazing?!” Zhang Fuyan grabbed Jiang Dong’s arm in her excitement.

“So, I’m going to be the uncle of three little ones!” Caught by her grip, Jiang Dong reflexively pulled her into his arms.

It was a subconscious reaction born from his intense excitement.

He had been carrying an immense weight of guilt, blaming himself for nearly causing the deaths of his sister and her children. Now that his sister was safe and the babies were fine—and there were three of them—he didn’t know how he would have lived with himself if something had actually happened.

Zhang Fuyan: “…”

She could feel the person holding her trembling slightly.

She knew he had been waiting for news that Jiang Xia’s pregnancy had stabilized. He was a truly kind-hearted person, which meant his sense of guilt was particularly heavy. She could tell just by the way he had come over every day to take care of her, believing it was his fault she had fractured her bone, and letting her boss him around without complaint.

Zhang Fuyan didn’t move. Jiang Dong held her for a while before suddenly snapping back to his senses!

His mind went buzz: Oh no! How do I handle this?

How did they end up hugging?

As Jiang Dong felt the soft warmth and faint fragrance in his arms, his limbs stiffened. His heart began to hammer against his ribs, beating faster and faster until it felt like it might burst out of his chest!

Feeling completely out of his depth, Jiang Dong wanted to let go, yet he was afraid to.

His heart was racing.

What should he do?

This was the first time Jiang Dong had ever felt this way. Before he could figure out the situation or what to do next, Zhang Fuyan pushed him away and said as if nothing had happened, “Um, it’s late. You should hurry back to your dormitory.”

“Oh.” The moment he was pushed away, a profound sense of loss spread from his heart to his entire body.

“Then I’ll come by tomorrow to bring your breakfast.” Jiang Dong suppressed his disappointment and went to the kitchen to get his lunch box.

Zhang Fuyan said, “No need tomorrow. My grandmother is free, and she said she’s coming over to look after me for a few days, so you don’t need to come.”

Jiang Dong: “…Oh. Then I’ll be going now.”

He felt even more dejected.

“Mm. Remember to close the door when you leave.”

Jiang Dong went to the kitchen, grabbed the lunch box, and walked out slowly. He lingered, his heart hoping for something.

But even after he got on his bicycle, nothing happened.

Jiang Dong pedaled away. His youthful silhouette looked lean and lonely, like a fallen leaf drifting in the early winter wind through the solitary streets.

After riding for several hundred meters, Jiang Dong suddenly squeezed the brakes. Both his long legs hit the ground to steady himself!

After standing in the street for a long time, he suddenly turned the bike around and pedaled back at high speed.

To make it easier to care for Zhang Fuyan, Jiang Dong had a key to her place.

He skidded to a stop, parked the bike, and used the key to open the door directly.

Zhang Fuyan was leaning on her crutches, about to head to her room to get clothes for a shower. Seeing the man who had just left return so suddenly, she asked, “What’s wrong? Did you leave something behind?”

Jiang Dong looked at her and nodded. “Yes. I left something very important behind!”

He finally understood why he felt so lost!

He had lost his heart!

Zhang Fuyan glanced at the coffee table. “What did you leave?”

“My heart.”

Zhang Fuyan: ???

Jiang Dong looked at her, his heart in his throat. “Sister Xiao Yan, I left my heart here with you. Are you willing to take it in?”

…

An hour later, Jiang Dong finished doing Zhang Fuyan’s laundry. He had made arrangements to bring her breakfast tomorrow and take her to school.

The youth’s silhouette was now tall and upright, brimming with vitality.

However, after stepping out of the courtyard gate, Jiang Dong looked left and right.

Where was his bicycle?

Dammit!

Which thief had stolen his bicycle again?!

Three minutes later, Jiang Dong appeared before Zhang Fuyan again. “Xiao Yan, my bike was stolen. Let me borrow yours for now.”

Zhang Fuyan rolled her eyes. “Call me Sister Xiao Yan!”

Jiang Dong replied, “We’re the same age. You’re not my sister.”

Zhang Fuyan’s lips twitched. “Who was the one who insisted on calling me ‘Sister’ back then?”

Jiang Dong: “Probably an idiot.”

Zhang Fuyan: “…”

“Where are the bike keys?” Jiang Dong asked cheerfully.

“On the cabinet by the door. Isn’t this the second bicycle you’ve lost? You know bikes are easily stolen, yet you still didn’t lock it.”

“I didn’t have my heart with me just now, so I forgot.”

Jiang Dong was telling the truth.

He had never felt this way before, but he had just realized why he felt so empty. His heart truly was gone!

Zhang Fuyan: “…”

“Hurry back! It’s late! Make sure you lock up any valuables in your dorm. Keep them safe, or they’ll be stolen too, you hear me?”

Jiang Dong didn’t want to leave yet. Having his bike stolen had its perks—at least it gave him an excuse to stay with her a bit longer. But now that he had no further reason to linger, he could only nod. “Then I’m off. Get some sleep soon.”

Jiang Dong decided to buy a motorcycle tomorrow. That way, it would be more comfortable when he took Xiao Yan to school.

Once he received enough dividends, he would buy a car. A car would be even more comfortable.

For now, he planned to use his current dividends to buy a courtyard house for his sister.

His brother-in-law had told him over the phone to keep an eye out for courtyard houses in the capital. His brother-in-law intended to buy one so his sister would have a place to stay when she attended university, and he would also bring the nephews and nieces to live there occasionally.

His sister refused to take his money, so Jiang Dong decided he would buy a courtyard house himself to give to her and the kids.

He would buy one for himself too.

He would almost certainly stay in the capital for work in the future, and he would need a house when he got married.

The next day, once the sun was out and the temperature had risen, Zhou Chenglei took Jiang Xia back to the village.

Early that morning, Mother Zhou had pushed the sewing machine into the courtyard to sew children’s clothes. The fabric was cotton she had bought in town the day before.

Father Zhou was in the courtyard planing wood. He intended to personally build a crib, a cradle, and a rocking horse for his grandchild.

Zhou Chenglei helped Jiang Xia off the motorcycle. As he pushed the bike into the courtyard, he saw his mother making baby clothes and his father woodworking.

The two elders looked up and hurriedly asked, “You’re back? Did you see the doctor yesterday? What did he say?”

Jiang Xia said, “The doctor said everything is fine now. You don’t need to worry.”

Mother Zhou sighed in relief, “Thank heaven! What a blessing!”

Jiang Xia asked, “Dad, why are you planing wood?”

Father Zhou replied, “I’m making a little bed for the baby.”

Mother Zhou added, “And I’m making some clothes.”

“Dad, make the crib a bit bigger. Mom, make more clothes and prepare more diapers; I’m afraid we won’t have enough.” Zhou Chenglei unloaded a large bag of things from the back of the motorcycle—items Father Jiang and Mother Jiang had sent to nourish Jiang Xia’s health.

Mother Zhou said, “Don’t worry, I bought five meters of fabric. It’s enough for many sets. The baby will be born in the summer, so the clothes will dry quickly. A few sets of tops will be enough, but I’ll make more pairs of pants.”

Father Zhou also chimed in, “I’m making the bed one meter long. It’ll be enough for the baby to sleep in until they’re a year old.”

“You both need to make enough for three children.” Zhou Chenglei took down the meat and vegetables hanging from the handlebars, which he had bought early that morning.

Rarely did anyone come to their village to sell pork, so he had bought plenty of pork and beef in the city, intending to make some jerky as snacks for Jiang Xia.

Father Zhou nearly planed his own hand. “What do you mean?”

Mother Zhou’s sewing line immediately went crooked. “Why do we need to make enough for three?”

Zhou Chenglei said, “Dr. Gao said it’s very likely that Xiaxia is carrying triplets.”

Chapter 336: Starting a Fight

Skritch!

Father Zhou’s plane slipped, carving a crooked line into the wood.

Mother Zhou’s sewing also went awry, her needle veering off the seam!

The two elders were completely stunned, both looking toward Zhou Chenglei.

What did their youngest son just say?

Were they so old they were starting to have hallucinations?

Did they just hear the word “triplets”?

Jiang Xia knew the two of them were desperate for grandchildren and feared they might get too excited—and that the greater the hope, the greater the potential disappointment. She quickly added, “The doctor said it’s only a possibility; it’s not certain yet if it’s triplets.”

Zhou Chenglei squeezed her hand. “If Dr. Gao said it’s a possibility, it’s basically a certainty. She wouldn’t have said anything if it wasn’t likely. Dad, Mom, you should start preparing for three children! Even if it doesn’t turn out to be three, it’s better to have too much prepared than not enough when the time comes.”

A few months would pass in the blink of an eye.

With so much work to do around the house every day, he was afraid they wouldn’t have enough time to prepare everything if he didn’t tell his parents early.

Besides, his father was currently making a small crib. If the bed was made too small and couldn’t fit three children, that would be a problem.

Even if it didn’t end up being three children in the end, it wouldn’t matter. They would just have extra supplies.

Wouldn’t it be better for the child to have more clothes, a bigger bed, and a fancier stroller?

This was exactly why he worked so hard! To ensure she and the children could live a better life.

This time, Father and Mother Zhou heard him loud and clear!

Father Zhou’s grin was so wide it nearly reached his ears. “This bed is definitely too small! I’ll swap the wood and make a bigger one! I’m going out right now to find some timber!”

So it turned out that Wealth-bringer didn’t just bring wealth; he brought a bounty of children too!

Three babies in one pregnancy!

This would completely shatter the Zhou family record of one baby per birth!

This was truly a triple blessing!

A vision flashed through Father Zhou’s mind: a little Fortune-bringer in his left hand, a little Wealth-bringer in his right, and a little Merit-bringer strapped to his back!

The image was simply too beautiful! He hadn’t even dared to dream of such a thing before!

Who would have thought!

Mother Zhou was so delighted she lost all patience for sewing, fearing she would only make more mistakes.

She stood up with a beaming smile. “Even though it’ll be summer, babies sweat a lot in the heat. We really do need to prepare more clothes. I’ll go ask around and see who has spare cloth coupons.”

The two of them began walking toward the door in high spirits.

Father Zhou reminded Mother Zhou, “Don’t go blabbering about this everywhere. Things are only just starting to take shape.”

Mother Zhou rolled her eyes. “You’re the one who shouldn’t blabber! Don’t think I don’t know you just want to go out and show off!”

Father Zhou stammered, “How am I blabbering? I’m going to look for wood. You’re the one going out to show off!”

He was happy—couldn’t he go out for a stroll?

If he didn’t go out for a stroll, he’d be pacing in circles on the spot!

He really felt like spinning in circles right now!

Mother Zhou countered, “I’m going out to find coupons! I’m not like you…”

She was so happy she’d lost her sense of direction; she had to go outside and walk around to find her bearing again, or she wouldn’t be able to contain herself.

…

The two elders bickered as they walked out.

Possessed by a joy they couldn’t vent, they had to go for a walk to find an outlet for their excitement.

Otherwise, they might just burst from happiness!

Throughout the entire morning, the two elders were enveloped in an aura of jubilation.

Father Zhou was so happy he made three trips to the convenience store in one morning to buy snacks for his unborn grandsons and granddaughters.

He was in no mood to work at all!

Over at the Great Tree Garden, people watched Father Zhou appearing frequently with a smile so wide his eyes were squeezed shut. Everyone was guessing what wonderful thing had happened.

But whenever they asked, he wouldn’t say a word!

…

As noon approached, Jiang Xia was groggily jolted awake by the sound of an argument.

After returning home, she had washed her hands and face, changed her clothes, and started on her translation work. After an hour of translating, she had become drowsy and went to bed for a nap.

Jiang Xia thought she recognized Mother Zhou’s voice. She quickly got out of bed, changed, and went outside.

“Is Mom fighting with someone?” Jiang Xia asked.

Zhou Chenglei had been in the kitchen all morning busy making pork and beef jerky. He had also vaguely heard his mother arguing and had just finished washing his hands. He was about to go check when he saw Jiang Xia come out.

“Sounds like it. I’ll go take a look; you stay here.”

“Let’s go together!” Jiang Xia started walking out.

Zhou Chenglei had no choice but to follow beside her.

Behind the new house, Mother Zhou stood with her hands on her hips, cursing loudly, “It’s my rotten luck to have you as a neighbor for eight lifetimes! I’ve never seen a person as black-hearted as you! Are you even human? You’re worse than a beast! There’s so much space, yet you insist on building a chicken coop right behind my house!”

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife was banging on some bamboo poles. “Whose chicken coop isn’t built behind a house? What’s wrong with me building a chicken coop behind my son’s new house? Does it bother you? This land isn’t yours! It’s none of your business!”

Mother Zhou was nearly fuming. “How is it none of my business? This is the land right behind my house! If you build a chicken coop behind our new house, the smell of bird droppings will blow right inside! How can I not care? There’s plenty of room for an old hen like you to lay her eggs, but you insist on nesting right behind our house just to disgust us!”

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife retorted, “You’re the old hen! Your whole family are old hens! Is this land yours? What right does a wretched woman like you have to stop someone from building a coop? This is my land! My son has already bought it! I’m going to build it, and I’m not just building a coop—I’m going to build a pigsty and a latrine too! What are you going to do about it? Can you stop me?”

Mother Zhou was practically exploding with rage. “I have never seen such a malicious person! Go ahead and build it then! If you dare build it, I’ll dare to throw manure here every single day! I’ll stink you to death! Go to hell, you… #%@#…”

If the neighbor didn’t want to live in harmony, then fine—nobody was going to have a good time!

Who was afraid of whom!

Zhou Chenglei supported Jiang Xia as they stepped over the yellow earth dug up for the foundation, walking along the wall of the new house toward the back.

Having heard the shouting match, Jiang Xia had a general idea of what was happening. She whispered to Zhou Chenglei, “When you went to the production team to buy land, did they say this plot was sold?”

Zhou Chenglei shook his head. “No.”

Jiang Xia felt relieved. Everything followed the principle of ‘first come, first served.’ Since they had already submitted their application to the production team and the relevant town departments, they didn’t need to fear her trying to buy it now.

However, if the other party had secured the land first, they could do whatever they wanted with it, and Jiang Xia’s side really wouldn’t be able to stop them.

“When will the application be approved?”

Zhou Chenglei replied, “It won’t be that fast. Probably about a week.”

“Let’s go ask tomorrow and see if we can get it approved sooner.”

Otherwise, if the other party managed to buy it first, it would be truly disgusting!

“Okay.”

The two arrived at the back of the house.

Jiang Xia immediately saw the bricks and bamboo on the ground.

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife was using a brick to hammer a sharpened bamboo pole into the ground.

A large section of the wasteland had already been cordoned off with bamboo.

It stretched all the way from the house belonging to Zhou Guohua’s family to the empty space behind theirs.

As she hammered, Zhou Bingqiang’s wife said triumphantly, “I’m going to raise chickens and there’s nothing you can do! Not just chickens! I’m going to build a pigsty next to it for pigs, and I’ll raise cattle too! This is my land, and I’ll raise whatever I want! If you’ve got the guts, why don’t you just bite me!”

Mother Zhou was livid. “Go ahead! Build it! People are watching, and so is Heaven! Let’s see if you can strike it rich by deliberately building a chicken coop behind my house!”

Regardless of how Mother Zhou cursed, Zhou Bingqiang’s wife just kept hammering and repeating, “This is my land, I’ll raise whatever I want! What are you going to do? Can you stop me? This is my land…”

It was enough to drive someone to their grave with rage!

“Mom…” Jiang Xia called out. Just as she was about to speak, a loud shout came from behind them: “Is Zhou Yongfu or Zhou Chenglei home? Is anyone home? Zhou Yongfu! Zhou Chenglei!…”

Chapter 337: First Come, First Served

Mother Zhou turned her head and was startled to see Jiang Xia. She immediately stopped her shouting. “Why are you here? Go back quickly, don’t come over here.”

Mother Zhou glared at Zhou Chenglei. “What’s wrong with you? Why did you bring Jiang Xia here! Have you no sense? Take Xiao Xia home right now!”

Jiang Xia heard someone shouting in the distance and said to Zhou Chenglei, “Someone is shouting for you and Dad. Go see who it is. I’ll stay here with Mom.”

Mother Zhou heard it too. “Yes, go quickly. All of you, go back. Take Jiang Xia with you and see who’s looking for you! Hold onto Xiao Xia properly.”

The ground was covered in mud from digging foundations. Although it had been stepped on and packed down long ago, it was still uneven, and Mother Zhou was afraid Jiang Xia might trip.

Zhou Chenglei said, “Mom, come back with us. Stop arguing; it’s useless.”

Was arguing useful? Only buying the land would be useful!

Jiang Xia gave Zhou Chenglei a meaningful look, signaling for him to leave first. Then she hooked her arm through Mother Zhou’s and whispered in her ear, “Mom, don’t be angry. Her family probably hasn’t bought this land yet. We’ve already submitted our application to buy it. If we manage to buy it by then, it won’t matter if she builds a chicken coop or a pigsty—she’ll have to tear it all down. Honestly, it would be even better if she didn’t tear it down; then it would just be a free gift for us. So let her build! Let’s not argue with her. Let’s go home first.”

Hearing this, Mother Zhou finally felt a sense of relief!

No, it was more than relief—it was pure satisfaction.

Fine, she wouldn’t argue with her!

Let her build her chicken coop and her pigsty! Once they were finished, they would eventually belong to her own family anyway!

“Let’s go! Let’s see who’s looking for your father. I won’t waste my breath on her!” Mother Zhou walked out arm-in-arm with Jiang Xia. As they walked, she shouted loudly, “Let her build whatever she wants! I want to see if building that thing actually makes her rich!”

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife retorted, “Of course I’ll get rich! I’m going to build a massive chicken coop here, raise hundreds of chickens and thousands of ducks, and make a fortune selling them! You just wait and see how rich I get!”

Jiang Xia looked back and smiled. “Auntie Qiang, then make sure you build it well. Build it even bigger! You must make it large enough for hundreds of chickens and thousands of ducks. In fact, you should build a pigsty too; raising pigs is even more profitable!”

Mother Zhou also smiled. “That’s right, go ahead and build! Never mind a chicken coop—I wouldn’t care if you built pigsties, cattle sheds, and sheep pens! Go for it!”

Just wait until her son bought the land!

Chickens, geese, ducks, pigs, cattle, and sheep—she would raise them all!

In any case, no one ever complained about the smell of their own livestock; they only found other people’s animals stinky.

Besides, her house had three floors!

If the first floor smelled, they would live on the second. If the second floor smelled, they would live on the third.

Who was afraid of whom?

Watching the mother and daughter-in-law walk away happily arm-in-arm, Zhou Bingqiang’s wife felt a sudden sense of foreboding.

She felt like something was wrong, but she couldn’t put her finger on what it was!

Just then, the production team leader came over. Seeing the three of them, he said, “I’ve been looking everywhere for you! So this is where you were hiding. Come with me quickly, people from the town are here.”

Zhou Chenglei asked, “Has the application been approved?”

The Team Leader grinned. “Yes, it’s been approved. Also, I’m here to let you know that the city called. They want you to go to the square in front of the city office building the day after tomorrow at nine in the morning for the ten-thousand-yuan household commendation ceremony.”

Jiang Xia smiled upon hearing this. Father Zhou would be thrilled when he found out.

He had been looking forward to this commendation ceremony for a long time!

Mother Zhou was also excited. “Team Leader, are there prizes at this commendation ceremony? I read in the newspaper that ten-thousand-yuan households in other cities got rewards.”

“Yes, of course! This is the first commendation ceremony being held by our city, and the leaders are taking it very seriously. They’ve prepared many prizes—televisions, bicycles, and even cash red envelopes.”

Their village had produced two ten-thousand-yuan households in total.

In the entire town, there were only five, and their village accounted for two of them.

They were certainly the center of attention in the town right now!

The Team Leader was exceptionally happy.

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife overheard this and realized that was why the two women were so happy!

Hmph, what’s so great about being a ten-thousand-yuan household?

My family is one too!

She stopped putting up the fence and climbed up. “Team Leader, my family is a ten-thousand-yuan household as well. We’re invited too, right? We’ll get prizes as well?”

“Yes, your family is included. I’ve already notified Bingqiang. Everyone who attends will get a reward. The top three get televisions, the top ten get a bicycle, and the others get cash prizes.”

Word from the city was that their town had a chance of producing one person in the top three.

The city had asked the towns to tally the relative success of their ten-thousand-yuan households to see who might take third place.

He suspected Zhou Chenglei was the most competitive candidate and hoped he had the strength to make the top three.

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife glanced at Mother Zhou. “When do we go to the city? Our whole family will definitely be there on time!”

“The day after tomorrow, nine in the morning, in front of the city building.”

Jiang Xia asked, “Team Leader, since our application to buy the land is approved, when can we measure it?”

“Right now. I came looking for you for exactly that reason. The officials are here; we’ll measure it for you today.”

The town’s intention was for Zhou Chenglei to place in the city’s top three to bring glory to the town!

They had heard that in the neighboring town, there was a ten-thousand-yuan household that ran a very large pig farm and made a lot of money. In another town, there was someone raising sea ducks, selling ducks and salted duck eggs nationwide with incredible sales.

The Zhou family currently only had one 24-meter ship and one small boat; the town was afraid they wouldn’t be strong enough to compete with the others.

Therefore, the town had very quickly approved their land purchase application.

The town officials had come directly to the village today to help measure the land before the ceremony.

The goal was to bolster Zhou Chenglei’s assets and strive to get him into the city’s top three!

It would bring honor to their town.

Mother Zhou was delighted to hear this. “Then let’s measure it now! Let’s start with this piece behind our house!”

The Team Leader said, “Alright, I’ll go call them over.”

The Team Leader walked out to call the men.

Soon, several people arrived carrying tools. Mother Zhou enthusiastically led them toward the wasteland.

Zhou Chenglei signaled Mother Zhou to look after Jiang Xia while he went ahead to tell the officials the boundaries he wanted to buy.

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife followed behind the group. Seeing them measuring the land, she panicked. “What is the meaning of this? My family is buying this land! This is ours!”

Mother Zhou retorted, “Your family bought it? Since when? Have you paid? Did you even file an application?”

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife stammered, “…Anyway, Guohua said he was buying one mu! He must have paid for it!”

Mother Zhou turned to the Team Leader. “Team Leader, did Zhou Guohua buy this one mu of land behind my house?”

The Team Leader replied, “No! Since when did he buy it? Zhou Li asked about the price per mu a while ago, but nothing ever came of it after that.”

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife was frantic. “I’m going back to ask him! Team Leader, my family wants to buy this land. You can’t sell it to Zhou Yongfu!”

Leaving those words behind, Zhou Bingqiang’s wife scrambled back home.

Mother Zhou finally felt like she could hold her head high!

Trying to build a chicken coop just to provide a nuisance, and even lying about buying the land!

She had nearly died of anger!

Zhou Chenglei intended to buy 50 mu in this area and another 50 mu in the neighboring village.

Two hundred thousand yuan for two plots of land, each roughly 50 mu.

Since the town and village leaders wanted to praise him for bringing glory to the village and town, they measured out a few extra mu for him.

They gave him all the land bordering the reefs, which amounted to nearly 3 mu extra.

Just as they finished measuring the land here and were preparing to head to the neighboring village, Wen Wan and Zhou Bingqiang’s wife came running over in a hurry.

Wen Wan panted, “Team Leader, we were the first to tell the production team we wanted to buy this land. You can’t sell it to Zhou Chenglei. In all things, there is a sense of first come, first served.”

Chapter 338: In That Case, I’ll Even Call You a Hero!

The town officials all turned to look at the production team leader. “Is there a dispute over this land?”

In the village, land disputes were the biggest headache.

The production team leader was bewildered. “When did your family say you wanted to buy it? The day before yesterday, Zhou Guohua only asked about the price; he never said he was going to buy it.”

Wen Wan argued, “The fact that we asked means we intended to buy it.”

Jiang Xia countered, “Just asking for the price means you want to buy? If you just ask, who’s to know if you want to buy or if you’re looking to sell?”

Wen Wan glanced at Jiang Xia, loathing her high-and-mighty, questioning attitude. “Why would we ask if we didn’t want to buy?”

“‘Wanting to buy’ and ‘going to buy’ are not the same thing. Since you wanted to buy, why didn’t you clearly state your intent? Why didn’t you immediately write an application? Do you think just thinking about it counts as a purchase?”

Wen Wan replied, “After asking the price, we planned to go home and discuss it. Isn’t that allowed? Buying land is a major decision; of course, the whole family needs to discuss it.”

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife added, “Exactly! Are people not allowed to go home and discuss it anymore?”

Jiang Xia sneered. “You haven’t bought the land, and you haven’t even submitted an application, yet you’ve already started putting up fences and building a chicken coop, using it as if it were your own. So, the result of your family’s ‘discussion’ was to want the land without applying for it or paying for it? You planned to just fence it off and occupy it, thinking that over time, it would naturally become yours, right? Is this what you call ‘wanting to buy’? Are you trying to buy it, or are you trying to take advantage of the public and the production team?”

Hearing this, the town officials began to frown.

“I never thought that! Don’t make false accusations!” Wen Wan was nearly exploding with rage. “I can’t out-argue you; you’re too sharp-tongued! We were the ones who asked about the price first, so the land must be sold to us!”

“You’re so proactive about using the land, yet you ‘wanted to buy’ for so long without ever telling the production team! You didn’t even go to the town to submit an application to prove your intent! My family’s application has already been approved! The officials are already here to measure the land, and only now do you jump out saying you want to buy it and that it must be sold to you! What wishful thinking! Why don’t you try to ‘think’ about buying the moon? Then when people can land on the moon in the future, the moon will belong to your family! You might as well be even bolder and think about buying Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and the Sun! Then the whole Milky Way would be yours! Our country will surely be grateful to you in the future, and in that case, I’ll even call you a hero!”

Wen Wan was truly driven to the brink of madness by Jiang Xia’s mouth; she desperately wanted to slap her.

“If Zhou Guohua hadn’t lied to me and said he’d already bought it, I would have bought this land long ago!” It was all that idiot Zhou Guohua’s fault! That liar!

Jiang Xia replied, “Well, there you go! That just proves the result of your family’s ‘discussion’ was that your husband lied about buying it because he didn’t actually want to! So, he never told the production team he wanted to buy it at all!”

“…”

Wen Wan felt incredibly stifled. She hadn’t expected that in her momentary lapse of anger, her slip of the tongue would be caught by Jiang Xia!

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife chimed in, “Leader, we’ll buy it now! We’ll buy this one mu right behind our house! I’ll give you the money right now! I’ve already occupied this land, even the fences are up, so it’s mine!”

The matter was crystal clear and there was no real dispute. Jiang Xia couldn’t be bothered with them anymore and spoke directly to the officials. “Comrades, did you hear that? They only asked the price; the husband had no intention of buying, so they didn’t. They just wanted to occupy the land for free. We, on the other hand, clearly expressed our intent to buy and submitted an application. If we’re talking about ‘first come, first served,’ we said we wanted it before they did. If we’re talking about procedure, we submitted our application first! So, is there still any objection?”

The town official replied, “No. Your application has been approved, and the land has been measured. As long as you can pay the full amount within the specified time, this land is yours. Let’s go! On to the next plot.”

Jiang Xia said to Zhou Chenlei, “Go with them to measure the land. I won’t go.”

Zhou Chenlei was very familiar with Jiang Xia’s expressions now. With just a subtle look, he knew if she was feeling unwell.

He checked her face, and once confirmed she was fine, he placed a hand on her shoulder. “Alright, I’ll go. You go home and rest. I might have to eat with everyone at noon. Will you and Mom eat at home by yourselves?”

Eating out would inevitably involve smoke and alcohol, and the smell would be too strong; otherwise, he would have brought her and his mother along.

“Okay,” Jiang Xia agreed.

So many people had spent half the day surveying the land to help them complete such a big task; treating them to a meal was only right.

Zhou Chenlei escorted Jiang Xia as she left, and the rest of the group followed suit.

The production team leader said to Wen Wan and Zhou Bingqiang’s wife, “There are other plots of land if you want to buy. Just go to the production team to write an application, then go to the town to apply. Once it’s approved, you’ll be set.”

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife snapped, “I only want this plot! I won’t buy any other!”

The leader replied, “Then there’s nothing I can do! Their application was already approved! What were you doing earlier if you wanted to buy it?”

After saying that, he also followed the officials.

Looking at the bamboo and bricks on the wasteland, Zhou Bingqiang’s wife asked Wen Wan, “What now? Are we still building the chicken coop?”

Wen Wan was suffocating with resentment and said irritably, “Ask your son!”

With that, she turned and walked away!

What kind of man had she married?

He was useless at everything but great at messing things up!

He actually dared to lie to her!

He had caused her to lose the lead!

That idiot!

She was furious!

Mother Zhou hadn’t left yet. She smiled at Zhou Bingqiang’s wife and said, “Build it! Why stop? Once you’re done, it’ll be perfect for me to raise chickens, ducks, and geese! My thanks to you! Originally, when we bought this land, we didn’t plan on raising chickens, so thank you for the reminder! Chenlei bought fifty mu of land! If we don’t raise more chickens, we’d be doing a disservice to the two hundred thousand yuan we spent!”

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife: “…”

In the evening, at the pier.

The story of Zhou Bingqiang’s wife and Zhou Yongfu’s wife fighting over a plot of land was the talk of the village.

Along with it, the news that Zhou Chenlei had spent two hundred thousand yuan to buy two stretches of beachfront tidal flats spread as well.

“How could Zhou Bingqiang’s family ever compete with Zhou Yongfu’s? Zhou Chenlei dropped enough for a hundred mu in one go! He bought up that entire stretch of the beach. Does Zhou Bingqiang have that kind of money? Talk about overestimating oneself!”

“That’s incredible. Zhou Chenlei is barely thirty, isn’t he? How did he make so much money?”

“They have that big boat for ocean fishing!”

“Even with a big boat, not everyone makes as much as he does! I think it’s because he married a good wife. Jiang Xia is bringing prosperity to her husband!”

Zhou Chenlei’s rise to fortune had happened right before the villagers’ eyes, so everyone chimed in:

“I think so too. Ever since he started taking his wife out to sea, their lives have improved. Every day their boat is full of fish and shrimp, often making one or two thousand at a time! It didn’t take long before they bought that big boat. And once they had the big boat, things got even crazier!…”

“Jiang Xia doesn’t just bring prosperity to her husband; she’s capable herself. my sister-in-law works at the plastic factory, and she asked me if there was someone named Jiang Xia in our village. Only then did I find out that Jiang Xia helped the plastic factory make a lot of money at the Canton Fair. She made a lot herself too—she gets a commission. She got over thirty thousand in commission just from the plastic factory! Then she also did translation for the textile factory, the garment factory, the food factory… many factories. She made twenty or thirty thousand from each, and she was paid in US dollars! If you convert that to our currency, I heard it’s hundreds of thousands.”

“That much? No wonder she didn’t even blink when taking out two hundred thousand to buy land!”

“Anyway, the Zhou family being this rich is all thanks to Jiang Xia.”

…

Wen Wan arrived at the pier to wait for Zhou Guohua’s return so she could give him a piece of her mind. Hearing everyone’s words, she pressed her lips together.

Jiang Xia bringing prosperity to her husband? My foot! It was Zhou Chenlei who brought prosperity to her!

In her previous life, she was nothing but a short-lived ghost!

Chapter 339: Heading Out to Sea

Everything at home had been settled, and Jiang Xia’s health was no longer a major concern. As long as she didn’t do heavy labor or overexert herself, she was fine.

Zhou Chenglei planned to go out to sea the next day.

So, during dinner, Zhou Chenglei announced to everyone, “I plan to go out to sea tomorrow.”

Father Zhou chuckled, “Good. I’ll go with you.”

All their money had been spent on buying land, and they now had three children to prepare for. Naturally, they had to work hard at sea to earn money.

Zhou Chenglei turned to Jiang Xia and asked, “Do you want to come along tomorrow and have a look?”

Jiang Xia was stunned for a moment. “I can?”

She had assumed she would have to stay in bed for the first three months before he would feel comfortable taking her out to sea.

Mother Zhou, however, was displeased. “That’s not a good idea! The wind is strong out at sea. Xiaxia is still nursing her pregnancy; why are you bringing her along? Are you short on help? Let your sister-in-law go! Don’t push Xiaxia!”

Zhou Chenglei explained, “I don’t plan on letting her work. I just want to take her out for a change of scenery. It’s not good for her to be cooped up at home for too long. I’ll move a lounge chair onto the boat; Xiaxia can just lie there. It won’t tire her out.”

Zhou Chenglei was worried that if Jiang Xia stayed home alone, she would spend the whole day sitting there acting as a translator without knowing when to rest. That would be even more exhausting.

With him watching over her at sea, how could he possibly let her get tired?

Jiang Xia smiled at that. “Then it’s a deal! I’ll just lie there and look at the sea. Or you can leave me on the beach, and I’ll just sunbathe and sleep there.”

Regardless, if she was going to be lying down, she might as well do it on the boat or the beach instead of just in bed!

Mother Zhou relented. “Then I’m going too. I’ll cook for you all on the beach.”

She wanted to go along to keep an eye on Jiang Xia.

Father Zhou smiled. “Then we won’t head out until six o’clock tomorrow. Go tell your big brother in a bit, and tell Yongguo as well. Let him rest tomorrow; he’s been accompanying your big brother out to sea every day lately without a break.”

Tomorrow, with Big Prosperity, Second Prosperity, Third Prosperity, and Fourth Prosperity all heading out, there was no need to be so early. Either way, wealth was bound to come rushing into his arms like the waterfall at the Water Curtain Cave in Journey to the West!

They were destined to make a fortune sooner or later!

“Alright.” After dinner, Zhou Chenglei went to inform Zhou Yongguo and Zhou Chengxin.

When Tian Caihua heard that Jiang Xia was going too, she grinned. “I’ll get up early tomorrow morning to make something delicious for Xiaxia to eat on the boat!”

Zhou Chenglei replied, “No need, Mom is going out to sea with us too.”

Tian Caihua wanted to go as well when she heard that, but she had to think about the kids coming home from school for lunch. She had no choice but to give up. She smiled and said, “Alright then. I’ll cook Zhou Zhou’s portion tomorrow too, and have Wenzong bring Zhou Zhou over here to eat after school.”

“Okay.”

Zhou Chenglei gave a brief acknowledgment and returned home.

The next morning at five o’clock, Zhou Chenglei got up, moved the family’s lounge chair onto the boat, and then went for a thirty-minute run before returning home.

Jiang Xia was already awake. When there was something important to do, she could wake up on time no matter how sleepy she was. Over the past few days when she had nothing to do, she usually slept until eight or nine o’clock before waking naturally.

Zhou Chenglei marveled at her mysterious biological clock.

After the family finished breakfast, Zhou Chenglei took Jiang Xia to the pier on his motorcycle.

Leaving at six o’clock was considered late, so the pier only had returning fishing boats.

Zhou Chenglei set the lounge chair aside and let Jiang Xia lie down.

“Are you cold?”

The early morning temperature was a bit low, and there was a breeze.

Jiang Xia shook her head. “I’m not cold.”

She was wearing a high-collared wool sweater and a down jacket; how could she be cold?

Mother Zhou felt her hand—it was warm, so she wasn’t cold.

Zhou Chengxin took the initiative to pilot the boat.

There was no helping it. Before Xiaxia was pregnant, he had been a scarecrow who knew how to drive a boat. Now that she was pregnant, Zhou Chenglei had to look after her, making him an “elite-level” scarecrow.

Looking ahead at the next few years, he expected to be promoted to a “fossil-level” scarecrow.

After all, if Zhou Chenglei took the children out to play on the sea in the future, he would have to look after them. When would he have time to pilot the boat?

So, Zhou Chengxin had already prepared himself mentally.

Father Zhou happily took out his fishing rod.

Zhou Chengxin asked, “Dad, aren’t you going to let Xiaxia touch the rod?”

“No need today.” Father Zhou hooked the bait and cast the line.

“Why not?” Didn’t his father believe Xiaxia’s hands brought in the money?

“Haven’t you heard that greed leads to loss?”

Today, they were covered by one, two, three, and four “Wealth-bringers.” They were practically radiating prosperity!

He believed that even without the Wealth-bringer touching the rod, he would be able to catch a big fish! In fact, if the Wealth-bringer did touch it, he was worried the fish would be so big he wouldn’t be able to reel it in!

Zhou Chengxin: “?”

What did that even mean? His father’s superstitious rambling was getting more and more profound!

After setting the nets, Zhou Chenglei came to Jiang Xia’s side and asked if she wanted to fish. Jiang Xia shook her head. “I’ll watch you.”

So, Zhou Chenglei took a fishing rod and fished for Jiang Xia to watch.

Jiang Xia suddenly had a craving for takoyaki—the kind with a whole small octopus inside.

She said to Zhou Chenglei, “Is there a way you can get more octopuses?”

Zhou Chenglei looked at her. “You want to eat octopus?”

Jiang Xia nodded.

Zhou Chenglei put down the fishing rod, rummaged through a box, and pulled out a bunch of clay pots strung together with rope.

Jiang Xia asked curiously, “You even have special tools? Where did these clay pots come from?”

“My dad made them a long time ago.”

Mother Zhou explained, “Back when we earned work points, some people were specifically responsible for putting clay pots in the sea to catch octopuses. Your father was once in charge of ordering clay pots from the kiln, so he specifically had some extra ones fired to keep for the family. He usually puts them in the sea to catch some octopus to add a dish to our meals. Otherwise, with such a large family and everyone having such big appetites, we could never get full on just the grain we earned from those work points.”

“Times were tougher back then.”

“Weren’t they just!”

The Zhou family had many males, and growing boys could eat their fathers out of house and home! Fortunately, living by the sea meant they had various ways to get seafood to fill the children’s bellies.

Zhou Chenglei lowered the clay pots into the sea, intending to retrieve them when they returned in the afternoon.

Just as Zhou Chenglei finished lowering the pots and was getting ready to fish, Father Zhou got a bite. The strike was aggressive, and the rod bent sharply.

“Hurry, come help! Get the dip net!”

Mother Zhou and Zhou Chenglei rushed over with the dip net to help.

“Quick, use the mesh bag to get under it! It’s going to escape!”

Mother Zhou shouted, “It’s too big, I can’t scoop it!”

Zhou Chengxin peeked over, seeing his father so excited, and asked curiously, “What kind of fish is it?”

No one answered him.

Father Zhou called out, “Let A-Lei do it! His mesh bag is the only one big enough.”

“Give me your mesh bag and stand aside. Hold the rod, I’ve got this!”

Finally, with the efforts of the three of them, they managed to get the fish onto the boat!

It was nearly one and a half meters long!

It was a Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel.

This species can exceed two meters in length and weigh up to 80 kg.

The one Father Zhou caught weighed about 50 kg.

Father Zhou had never caught such a large Spanish Mackerel in his life!

Even if this fish was only worth 0.7 or 0.8 yuan per 500-gram, it would still be worth seventy or eighty yuan.

He knew that with four layers of prosperity around him, his luck would be overwhelming. Why would he need the Wealth-bringer to touch the rod?

Zhou Chengxin looked at the fish on the shuttering with a sense of gloom. Going out to sea with A-Lei and his wife, a single fish was worth more than his usual daily earnings.

Why was his own luck at sea so poor?

Father Zhou gave a grand wave of his hand. “Continue!”

Today, he was going to be more and more prosperous!

Chapter 340: The Benefits of Octopus

Jiang Xia glanced at the Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel on the boat and immediately thought of the taste of pan-fried mackerel slices.

This particular Spanish mackerel was especially plump; it would definitely be delicious pan-fried.

Unfortunately, such a large fish couldn’t be kept for home consumption. Without a refrigerator, it wouldn’t last, and it would be a waste if they couldn’t finish it.

Jiang Xia looked away and let her gaze drift into the distance, taking in the early morning sea and quietly enjoying the sunrise over the water.

Father Zhou reeled in another very long fish. Jiang Xia turned her head to look but didn’t recognize it.

“What kind of fish is this?”

Father Zhou said with a chuckle, “A wolf herring.”

Zhou Chenglei added, “It’s also called the Treasure Sword Fish. These are more common in the spring, which is also when they taste the best.”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Is it good?”

“I’ll cook it for you when we get back tonight,” Zhou Chenglei said.

Seeing that Jiang Xia wasn’t familiar with it, Zhou Chenglei decided to keep this fish and bring it home for her.

Jiang Xia smiled. “Alright.”

Just then, Zhou Chenglei also had a fish on the hook—it turned out to be a porcupinefish.

Its entire body was covered in hard spines, and its belly was puffed up, swollen to a great size!

Jiang Xia knew about this fish; it was delicious, but extremely toxic!

“Be careful! Isn’t that fish poisonous?” Jiang Xia reminded Zhou Chenglei.

“I know.”

Jiang Xia had never eaten porcupinefish, but she knew it was tasty and highly nutritious, despite being lethally toxic.

Its toxicity was incredibly potent, roughly 1,250 times that of the deadly poison sodium cyanide; only a tiny amount was enough to be fatal.

The most toxic parts were the ovaries and liver, followed by the kidneys, blood, eyes, gills, and skin. Accidentally consuming even a small bit was life-threatening.

However, its meat was exquisite, and many fishermen loved to eat it.

The Zhou family was no exception!

Father Zhou said, “I’ll take this porcupinefish home to go with my drinks tonight.”

Zhou Chengxin added, “Dad, I’ll have a glass with you tonight! Didn’t A-Sen say he was coming back this evening? This is his favorite fish.”

Father Zhou laughed. “Sounds good.”

It was a perfect way to celebrate his youngest son buying 6.6 hectares of land.

Looking at the fish, Jiang Xia felt a slight urge to taste this legendary delicacy, but thinking of the children in her belly, she decisively gave up on the idea.

Zhou Chenglei asked Zhou Chengxin to steer the boat along the current; he wanted to fish for octopuses.

Octopuses generally moved with the sea currents.

Hearing this, Mother Zhou said, “I’ll fish for some too. We should catch more and dry them so Xiao Xia can eat them after she gives birth.”

Octopuses were great for stimulating lactation. With three children to feed later, it was better to prepare as much as possible early on to avoid a shortage of breast milk.

The thought of it made Mother Zhou worry that Jiang Xia would have a hard time. Even though there was powdered milk, she felt it wasn’t as good as mother’s milk.

Humans were humans, and cows were cows. Since ancient times, humans had grown up on breast milk; no matter how nutritious cow’s milk was, it was better suited for calves!

But if the children couldn’t get enough to eat, they would have to use powdered milk.

So, it was better to prepare more octopus. Mother Jiang decided she would go to the pier every day from now on to buy octopuses.

Mother Zhou then said to Zhou Chenglei, “When you have time, go buy some more clay pots. From now on, whenever we go out to sea, we’ll drop some clay pots to catch octopuses. I’ll dry them and save them for Xiao Xia’s recovery.”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t know what octopuses were used for, but hearing Mother Zhou say they were for Jiang Xia to eat after giving birth, he asked, “What are the benefits of octopus?”

Jiang Xia didn’t know either and looked at Mother Zhou.

“It promotes lactation.”

Jiang Xia: “…”

Zhou Chenglei: “…Alright, I’ll go buy them this afternoon when we get back.”

Father Zhou had caught octopuses for Mother Zhou in the past, so he naturally knew their use. As soon as he heard this, he stopped fishing for fish, put away his rod, and switched to a hook specifically for octopuses.

Jiang Xia saw both Zhou Chenglei and Father Zhou switch to a different kind of hook—a moving hook with a small silver iron rod attached, featuring multiple hooks that branched out like an octopus itself.

She wasn’t sure what material the small iron rod was made of, but it looked a bit like silver.

She asked, “Is that little iron rod plated with silver?”

“No, it’s tin,” Zhou Chenglei replied.

Octopuses and squids were attracted to light. By plating it with tin, the small rod would reflect light as it moved in the water under the sunlight, thereby attracting the octopuses.

Jiang Xia understood the principle; it was the same as using shiny lures in fishing.

“Does it work well?” she asked curiously.

“It’s alright. The chances are much higher than just regular fishing. Every fish has its own preferences and habits; some are phototactic, while others are very sensitive to certain sounds. That’s why we use targeted traps.”

After the three of them finished setting up their complex hooks, they began fishing for octopuses.

When fishing for octopuses, you couldn’t just drop the line and stay still.

To get a good harvest, you had to lift and pull the fishing line rhythmically.

The range and frequency of the tugs were quite specific.

Jiang Xia watched as they moved in almost perfect unison: reeling in at a steady speed, tugging, and then pausing.

Back and forth they went—reeling, tugging, pausing!

It looked exhausting just watching them!

Exhausting as it looked, it was effective!

Zhou Chenglei soon felt an octopus grab the hook. He quickly reeled in the line and plucked the fish; the movement was smooth and practiced.

Jiang Xia saw the octopus squirt a stream of ink, staining the shuttering black. Fortunately, it didn’t hit anyone.

However, Zhou Chenglei had been prepared. He gripped the octopus’s round belly between his index and middle fingers, pointing its head away from everyone so the ink wouldn’t spray on them.

Father Zhou glanced over. “That’s a big octopus!”

“Yeah.” Zhou Chenglei took the octopus off the hook. Just as he was about to put it in the bucket, it squirted another stream of ink.

That was the only downside to these things.

After a few minutes, Father Zhou also had a catch, but it was a squid rather than an octopus.

Then it was Mother Zhou’s turn, but she reeled in a sea bass.

…

The sun gradually grew stronger and felt warm and cozy. Jiang Xia felt a bit drowsy after watching for a while. She let out a yawn and, listening to the “tu-tu-tu” sound of the boat’s engine, she unknowingly fell asleep.

Seeing this, Zhou Chenglei took a military overcoat and covered her with it.

An hour later, Jiang Xia woke up, feeling hot.

She opened her eyes, sat up, and moved the coat aside. Just as she was about to say something, she saw the surface of the sea in the distance, where a flock of seabirds was diving into the water to feed.

Many birds from the nearby islands were also flying over.

“Zhou Chenglei! There’s a school of fish over there!”

Zhou Chengxin saw it too and quickly steered the boat toward them.

Zhou Chenglei, Father Zhou, and Mother Zhou quickly reeled in their lines and stopped fishing.

“A-Lei, pull up the net!” Father Zhou shouted. The father and son quickly went over to start hauling in the net.

Mother Zhou went to help as well.

Jiang Xia also stood up and pulled her lounge chair aside to avoid getting in the way of their work.

Seeing this, Mother Zhou hurried to help. “Don’t move that, I’ll do it.”

Jiang Xia stepped aside. “Let’s just put it away for now. I won’t be lying down for a while.”

Mother Zhou didn’t put it away but moved it further inside. “You can sit for a bit if you get tired later.”

After moving the lounge chair, Mother Zhou went to pilot the boat, letting Zhou Chengxin go and help with the net.

The boat still had some distance to travel. Jiang Xia watched the seabirds in the distance feeding frantically, wondering if the school of fish would be gone by the time they arrived.

Jiang Xia looked back again. The three men were pulling the net up with all their might.

After dragging it for only about an hour and a half, the net was already filled with a large haul of fish.

Jiang Xia spotted two very large Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel.

This haul was easily 300 to 350 kilograms.

She looked out at the sea again and noticed two other fishing boats approaching from a distance.

Chapter 341: Just Kidding

Jiang Xia estimated the speed of the other two fishing boats and felt that their own boat would likely arrive first.

Naturally, everyone was at a certain distance from the school of fish. Whoever arrived first and claimed a good position would be able to catch the most. Of course, there was also a possibility that by the time the fishing boats arrived, the school of fish would have already been scattered by the seabirds.

Jiang Xia kept her eyes fixed on the sea. Suddenly, she saw the birds flying toward their fishing boat.

Excitedly, Jiang Xia shouted, “The fish are swimming toward us!”

Mother Zhou saw it too and said with excitement, “Yes! Those seabirds are flying in our direction. The school of fish must be coming this way.”

Upon hearing this, the father and his two sons worked even harder to pull in the net.

By the time the three men hauled up a large bag of fish, the school had arrived! Jiang Xia saw a massive swarm of fish in the water.

Without even taking the time to pour out the catch, the three men quickly grabbed their cast nets and threw them out!

“It’s a school of Spanish Mackerel! Damn! What a huge swarm!” Zhou Chengxin shouted in excitement.

While they were busy hauling in the fish, the other two fishing boats also arrived!

The people on those two boats shouted and cursed, “This is the school we were chasing! Get out of the way and stop fishing!”

“Move! Hurry up and move! We discovered this school and have been chasing it the whole way!”

“No casting nets! This school belongs to us!”

The three men of the Zhou family didn’t even give them a glance, focusing entirely on hauling the fish onto the boat as quickly as possible.

With each cast, the Zhou men hauled up a large bag of fish onto the deck.

The school suddenly lost a significant number of fish, and the survivors, startled, began to swim away rapidly.

Seeing this, the people on the two opposing fishing boats became even more frantic. “Stop it! No more fishing!”

“Do you have no sense of professional ethics? We found this school and were chasing it! Who gave you permission to fish?”

“Give us back our fish!”

“Move the boat closer! Let’s beat them up! Take the fish back!”

“Close in! Attack from the left and right, block them! They have a huge bag of fish on their deck too—grab that as well!”

“Damn, that bag of fish on their boat is huge! There must be hundreds of kilograms there!”

“Seize it! Take everything!”

“You’re plucking whiskers from a tiger’s snout! Coming to this part of the sea to fish and even daring to snatch our school—you must be courting death! I advise you to hand over the fish obediently, and maybe you’ll avoid a beating. Otherwise, don’t blame us for what happens next!…”

To catch octopus, Zhou Chengxin had been steering the boat along the ocean currents. They had planned to head toward the waters near Abalone Island, but they had unknowingly ended up in a sea area they rarely visited.

The people on these two fishing boats likely saw that they were unfamiliar faces and that there were few of them. Relying on their superior numbers and larger boats—ten people in total across the two vessels—they intended to bully the weak.

Encountering thugs when venturing into unfamiliar waters was something that happened occasionally. This was why villagers preferred to fish in familiar waters near their own villages, so they wouldn’t be bullied by outsiders.

The two fishing boats blocked their path from the front and back.

The school of fish had already dispersed. After Zhou Chenglei used a dip net to scoop up one last fish, he said to Zhou Chengxin, “Big Brother, go steer the boat.”

He glanced at Jiang Xia. Mother Zhou had already pulled Jiang Xia behind her in a protective stance. He gave Jiang Xia a reassuring look.

Father Zhou had already gone to pick up a carrying pole.

Zhou Chenglei looked at the opposing side and said, “Move out of the way!”

Father Zhou came out with the poles and handed one to Zhou Chenglei. Zhou Chenglei didn’t take it and said, “Give it to my mom.”

Father Zhou handed it to Mother Zhou.

Father Zhou then addressed the people on the other boat, “We caught up to the school and discovered it first. You know that yourselves. We were already chasing the school when you steered your boats over!”

“Oho! Look at that, they have weapons! No wonder they aren’t afraid!” someone laughed snidely.

“You think you’re the only ones with those? We have them too!”

The men on the other two boats pulled out air guns—two of them.

In this era, hunting was not yet banned, so some people would buy air guns to hunt sparrows. Jiang Xia often heard the sound of air guns being used to shoot sparrows back in the village. Their large boat was also equipped with them.

Currently, their side only had five people, while the opposition had ten!

Whether in terms of tools or manpower, the other side had the upper hand, so the people on the two boats weren’t afraid at all. “Move the boat closer! I’m jumping over to deal with them!”

The pilot of the opposing boat began to adjust his position, closing in on the Zhou family boat.

Jiang Xia looked at Mother Zhou, who was standing in front of her, gripping the carrying pole tightly. She could see that Mother Zhou was very nervous; her hands were trembling slightly.

Jiang Xia was also a bit afraid, but Zhou Chenglei’s gaze was so calm that her fear subsided. She observed the opposition; they looked like ordinary fishermen. They were likely just trying to bully outsiders and steal their catch because they had the numbers. They were bullies who feared the strong but preyed on the weak, not actual hardened criminals.

As the two boats drew closer, while there was still a gap between them, Zhou Chenglei suddenly jumped across.

“Holy shit! He’s jumping over!”

“Can he make it? It’s so far!”

Before the words had even fully left their mouths, Zhou Chenglei landed on their deck. The moment his feet touched the floor, he snatched the two air guns from the men.

“Damn! He actually made it!”

“Grab him! Beat him!”

“Quick, get him!”

…

By the time they reacted, Zhou Chenglei had already turned the barrels around, pressing them against the chests of two of the men.

“…”

“…”

…

Zhou Chenglei said coldly, “Keep bringing the boat closer. Weren’t you going to rob the fish from my boat?”

The man being held at gunpoint didn’t dare move. He whispered, “No! Brother! It’s all a misunderstanding! We were just kidding!”

The other man added, “Right, a misunderstanding! We’re just villagers, ordinary villagers. We’re all neighbors from the same region, just having a little joke!”

The others on the boat chimed in one after another, “Yeah, just a joke. We’re model citizens, how could we ever steal someone’s catch? We were kidding!”

“Brother, we were just joking! Just kidding!”

“Right, joking, we were just joking!”

…

Damn, who is this guy? How are his reflexes so fast?

Just then, another fishing boat approached. Jiang Xia recognized it as Boss Guo’s boat.

The people on the two boats looked as if they had seen a savior and hurriedly shouted, “Boss Guo, help!”

As the fishing boat pulled alongside, Boss Guo looked at Zhou Chenglei and smiled, “Comrade Zhou, these are people from our village. If they accidentally offended you, I’ll have them apologize. Harmony breeds wealth, don’t be angry! Let’s discuss things calmly.”

The men on the two boats froze for a moment, then quickly said, “Brother, we were kidding, just kidding! Truly just kidding!”

“Is the joke over? If it’s over, move the boat out of the way!” Zhou Chenglei said indifferently.

Boss Guo added, “The joke has gone on long enough. Why haven’t you moved the boat yet? Don’t you see you’re blocking Comrade Zhou’s boat?”

“Start the engine, hurry up and leave!”

That boat quickly sped away.

Only then did Zhou Chenglei snap the two air guns in half and toss them into the sea.

The owners of the guns: “…”

Wait! Those are really hard to buy!

Chapter 342: He Will Keep Trying

Boss Guo smiled and said to Zhou Chenglei, “Thank you for giving me a bit of face, Comrade Zhou. How about dinner tonight? I’ll apologize on behalf of my village brothers.”

“No need!” Zhou Chenglei refused him outright.

Once the boat blocking their bow moved out of the way, Zhou Chenglei leapt back onto his own vessel.

Seeing Zhou Chenglei return, Zhou Chengxin immediately steered the boat away.

After the Zhou family’s boat had departed, the men on the other two boats asked Boss Guo, “Boss, who was that? Do you know him?”

His skills were incredible!

There had been a significant distance between the two boats, yet the man had jumped across in a single bound.

The moment he landed, he snatched the air gun. Before they could even react, the muzzle was pointed right at them!

Everything had happened in a matter of seconds.

Most importantly, when that man held the gun, he gave off the vibe that he actually dared to pull the trigger. They, on the other hand, did not.

They were just used to running scams and taking petty advantages; they didn’t actually dare to do anything that would land them in a cage.

When they encountered ordinary fishermen, the victims would usually give up some of their catch to buy their peace and avoid trouble. After all, the sea was vast, and help was far away. If something happened, no one would ever know how they died, so most fishermen chose to settle things quietly.

Who would have thought they’d run into such a tough nut today?

They had even lost two air guns in the process!

Those things weren’t cheap!

It really stung!

Boss Guo revealed Zhou Chenglei’s identity to them.

“…”

They felt as if the doors to a prison cage had just swung open for them, and they had nearly walked right in!

Boss Guo warned them, “Don’t try to steal other people’s catch again! Times have changed. Fish properly and stop doing those shady things, or next time, no one will be able to help you.”

“We didn’t do anything; we were just competing for the school of fish!”

“Yeah, we just had a bit of a dispute over the fish! We only wanted to scare them; we didn’t really do anything! He jumped over without a word, grabbed the air gun out of our hands, and pointed it at my heart. I nearly peed myself from the fright!”

…

Boss Guo remained silent.

He watched the departing boat, still wanting to establish a good relationship with Zhou Chenglei so they could make a fortune together.

He had heard that the man had even bought an ocean-going freighter.

Just look at how wide his connections were!

That was international business!

The man was capable himself, and his wife’s family was like a towering mountain of support. By befriending such a person, why would one ever worry about wealth and status?

It was just that the other party completely ignored him.

No matter, where sincerity leads, even metal and stone will open.

He would keep trying!

He had people watch the sea area Zhou Chenglei had leased every day. If they saw any boats approaching, they would drive them away, preventing anyone from getting close or diving down to steal the fish they were raising on the seabed.

He refused to believe that if he kept helping, he wouldn’t eventually move Zhou Chenglei.

After the Zhou family boat sailed away, Father Zhou couldn’t help but remark, “That entire village is full of former thugs.”

Finishing his sentence, he looked back and saw his younger son quietly taking his daughter-in-law’s hand.

Father Zhou smiled!

See? When a couple is in love, it doesn’t just bring Wealth-bringer; everything goes smoothly, and they can turn any misfortune into a blessing!

Father Zhou went to steer the boat, telling Zhou Chengxin to pour out the fish.

Zhou Chenglei came to Jiang Xia’s side and took her hand. He was worried she might have been scared earlier, but clearly, she wasn’t.

“Are you cold?”

She had taken off her coat.

Jiang Xia shook her head. “No, this turtleneck sweater is actually quite stuffy.”

The sun was so bright she was almost sweating!

She had told him she didn’t need to wear a turtleneck, but he had insisted on finding one for her.

Zhou Chenglei said, “Don’t stand for too long. Sit for a while.”

He moved the lounge chair out a bit more so Jiang Xia could lie down, then went to get the strawberries he had washed before they set out.

Jiang Xia sat there soaking up the sun, feeling the sea breeze, eating strawberries, and watching them sort the fish.

Guided by the fishing boat, Father Zhou looked at Wealth-bringer’s leisurely and comfortable appearance and felt like he wasn’t driving a fishing boat, but a yacht!

Hmph, perhaps in the future, he could have one grandchild on his left, one on his right, and one in the middle—three little lucky charms in his arms while he sunbathed on a yacht!

The mother and two sons quickly sorted and packed the netted Spanish Mackerel.

These Spanish Mackerel weren’t particularly large, each weighing about 1 to 1.5 kilograms.

They filled over three crates, weighing over 150 kilograms.

Then the two brothers poured out the contents of that large bag.

There were actually three Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerels that weighed over 50 kilograms each.

Then there was a pile of shrimp, likely caught in the net when the Spanish Mackerel were chasing them for food.

There was also a giant jellyfish, which weighed over 50 kilograms on its own.

“No wonder this haul felt so heavy,” Zhou Chengxin grunted.

Looking at the jellyfish, Jiang Xia said, “Cold shredded jellyfish is delicious.”

Hearing this, Zhou Chenglei took a knife and, with a swift motion, separated the jellyfish head from the jellyfish flowers. He discarded the stinging tentacles, as they had a poor texture and didn’t taste good.

Mother Zhou said, “Let me handle the salting.”

Jellyfish needed to be pickled with salt and alum to dehydrate them. Mother Zhou was afraid Zhou Chenglei wouldn’t cure it properly.

A jellyfish was practically a treasure from head to toe. Besides the head, flowers, skin, and meat, the jellyfish oil was also edible.

The Zhou family all believed the jellyfish head was the best part.

The head consisted of eight large lobes and sixteen wings; it was crunchy and chewy, making it the most delicious.

The shredded jellyfish Jiang Xia mentioned was made by slicing the dehydrated jellyfish skin. Whether the shredded jellyfish was good or not depended on the dehydration time.

Good shredded jellyfish was judged by its length, hardness, and dryness.

If it was long enough, the presentation was better; hardness meant it had been cured with enough old salt; dryness meant the dehydration time was sufficient.

With those three qualities guaranteed, the shredded jellyfish would be delicious.

Since Jiang Xia wanted to eat it and Mother Zhou was worried Zhou Chenglei wouldn’t handle it well, she insisted on doing the salting herself.

Zhou Chenglei stepped aside for Mother Zhou; his mother’s shredded jellyfish was indeed very tasty.

He continued sorting the fish.

At noon, Mother Zhou and Jiang Xia stayed on the island to cook seafood rice noodles, while Zhou Chenglei and Zhou Chengxin went down to the seabed to feed the fish.

Another month had passed, and the fish they were raising had grown significantly.

The net cages were also much fuller, thanks to the fish Zhou Chengxin had been gradually adding over the past month.

The fish in the net cages were all valuable species like Grouper, Large Yellow Croakers, and Genuine Porgy.

If they waited until the Lunar New Year to sell them, they would definitely fetch a great price.

In the afternoon, they hauled in another net, then headed to Pearl Island to feed the fish there and collect the clay pots before heading home.

Surprisingly, those clay pots actually caught some octopuses—more than a dozen in total.

They began their return journey before three o’clock, dragging one last net on the way back.

Tian Caihua arrived at the pier at three o’clock to wait.

She guessed that since Jiang Xia had gone out to sea today, they would probably return early.

Sure enough, a little after four o’clock, she saw the silhouette of their fishing boat.

The boat was filled with crate after crate of fish, with a large pile still unsorted.

At the sight of this overflowing harvest, Tian Caihua beamed!

It really took going out with the fourth brother and his wife to get such a bountiful catch.

Tian Caihua hurried onto the boat to help sort the fish.

Once the boat was docked, Zhou Chenglei said to Tian Caihua, “Big Sister-in-law, Xiaxia and I are going home first.”

Tian Caihua said happily, “Alright, go on ahead! Leave everything here to us.”

When Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia reached the entrance of the production team to pick up the motorcycle, they happened to run into Zhou Chengsen and Li Xiuxian returning.

Zhou Chengsen called out to them from behind, “A-Lei, Xiao Xia!”

Zhou Chenglei stopped the motorcycle and looked back. The couple called out in unison, “Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law.”

Zhou Ying, sitting on the back of Zhou Chengsen’s bicycle, called out sweetly, “Uncle, Auntie.”

Jiang Xia smiled and replied.

Zhou Chengsen asked, “Just getting back from the sea?”

Zhou Chenglei nodded. “Yes, I’m taking Xiaxia back now.”

Zhou Chengsen had already spotted their fishing boat piled high with fish and immediately said, “Yingying, your mother and I are going to help sort the fish. Why don’t you ride back on your uncle’s motorcycle?”

Zhou Ying’s eyes lit up. “Okay!”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Fantastic. They hadn’t even stepped through the door and they already had to go work.

Chapter 343: Borrowing Money

Zhou Ying hopped off the bicycle, her face beaming with joy.

This wasn’t her first time on a motorcycle; the last time she had returned home, Father Zhou had taken her for a spin around the village on his. She found the motorcycle very comfortable—much more so than a bicycle.

Jiang Xia asked her, “Yingying, do you want to sit in the middle or at the front?”

“I want to sit at the front.”

Jiang Xia shifted back a bit, and Zhou Chenglei followed suit, before lifting the girl up to sit in front of him.

Zhou Chengsen handed the meat and ribs they had brought back to Zhou Chenglei, then went off with Li Xiuxian to help sort the fish.

Meanwhile, Zhou Chenglei rode the motorcycle back home.

When Li Xiuxian reached the boat, Father Zhou and Zhou Chengxin were busy moving crates of fish onto the pier.

It wasn’t Li Xiuxian’s first time helping with the sorting, but it was the first time she had seen such a massive haul.

She exclaimed in surprise, “The harvest is quite good today!”

Tian Caihua was incredibly smug. The money they made today was several times Li Xiuxian’s monthly salary—probably more than ten times over. Back when Li Xiuxian taught at the village primary school, her salary was only twenty yuan. Now that she had moved to the town center’s primary school, it was likely a bit higher, but probably only by ten yuan or so!

For the longest time, Li Xiuxian had acted quite high and mighty in front of her just because she earned her own living!

Pah! Acting like a big deal over just a few dozen yuan!

Tian Caihua couldn’t resist showing off a little. “It’s okay, I guess! We came back early today, so we’ll probably only sell this for a bit over a thousand yuan. If we had stayed out later, we could have hit over two thousand.”

Li Xiuxian could easily see through Tian Caihua’s posturing. She said flatly, “That’s quite good. If it stays like this every day, Big Sister-in-law will be wealthy in no time.”

She said the words, but in her heart, she felt truly stifled.

Tian Caihua laughed. “How could that be? We still have to split half with our fourth brother! He’s the one with the big fishing boat; he’s the one who’s truly wealthy! But once our family’s new boat arrives, we’ll be able to earn more. Oh, right, did you know Dad is going to the city tomorrow for the ten-thousand-yuan household commendation ceremony? Is Second Brother going? I heard the ten-thousand-yuan households get televisions, bicycles, and cash rewards. If I’d known, I would have separated our household registration earlier. Then I could have attended too and brought a television back.”

“I don’t know if he’s going,” Li Xiuxian replied, her heart feeling even more unsettled.

Even Tian Caihua had become a ten-thousand-yuan household?

The combined monthly salary of her and Zhou Chengsen was barely over two hundred yuan. Although they got benefits during holidays and didn’t really have to buy food, they could only save a little over a thousand yuan a year—maybe close to two thousand at most. Their total savings right now were only a little over three thousand, nearly four thousand.

Last night, Zhou Chengsen had told her that Zhou Chenglei had spent 200,000 yuan to buy 100 mu of land in the village.

At her school, there were teachers whose husbands worked in the town government offices, and some of them had even come up to her this morning to ask if her brother-in-law had really spent 200,000 yuan on 100 mu of land.

Zhou Chenglei had become a multi-millionaire, and Tian Caihua had become a ten-thousand-yuan household, yet she had been so proud of having three thousand yuan in savings!

Li Xiuxian couldn’t help but look at the fishing boat. Before the family division, the money earned by this boat belonged to everyone.

But after the division, the second branch no longer had a share in it.

Why did Tian Caihua get to have a house, land, and a boat?

Even though she and her husband both had jobs, their salaries were so low—how could they possibly compare to going out to sea to fish?

Li Xiuxian realized now that she had been foolish back then. When they divided the family, the family had put up some money to buy a house in the town. Zhou Chengsen had said then that the family’s boat and land would no longer be split with them.

At the time, she hadn’t objected. She even felt like she had gotten a great deal since they both had stable jobs and didn’t need the family land or boat.

She had been far too naive!

She never expected fishing at sea to be this profitable.

Back then, the fishing boat had just been purchased. After deducting fuel costs, they didn’t earn much daily—maybe about a dozen yuan—and they often couldn’t go out because of the weather.

In reality, back then, they only made four or five hundred yuan a month.

Who could have guessed they would be making thousands in a single day now?

Li Xiuxian truly regretted it. She regretted not realizing that she shouldn’t have given up the boat—that massive asset that could generate wealth.

However, regret was useless now. Whenever she brought it up, Zhou Chengsen would just say he gave it to his older and younger brothers.

Dinner was prepared by Zhou Chenglei. He first washed Jiang Xia’s hair and prepared her bath water before starting on the meal.

Dinner consisted of braised ribs, stir-fried sliced pork with chili, poached shrimp, poached small octopus, steamed abalone with minced garlic, stir-fried porcupinefish with scallions, braised Treasure Sword Fish, and a dish of bok choy.

While eating, Tian Caihua noticed Jiang Xia didn’t dare to touch the porcupinefish and said, “The porcupinefish A-Lei made is delicious. It’s not poisonous.”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “It’s fine, I’ll try it another time.”

The dosage of certain toxins is determined by body weight. Jiang Xia felt that no matter how cleanly it was processed, there might still be trace amounts of toxins. It wouldn’t harm an adult, but she didn’t know about an embryo only the size of a pearl.

If it affected the embryo’s development, it would be too late for regrets!

Why take such a risk just for a bite of food?

Seeing that Jiang Xia didn’t dare eat it, Zhou Chenglei ate a piece himself but then joined her in abstaining from the dish. He even switched to a different pair of chopsticks to serve her other food.

Zhou Chengsen asked Father Zhou, “Dad, how are you getting to the city tomorrow?”

Father Zhou replied, “We’re taking the production team’s tractor. The team will drive us there. Are you guys coming?”

Tian Caihua immediately said, “Yes! I’ll bring the kids along. Xiao Xia, are we going to see the sofas after the commendation ceremony?”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “I’m not going to the ceremony. I’ll go straight to see the sofas.”

Tian Caihua said, “Then I’ll just take a quick look at the ceremony and then go with you to see the sofas.”

Zhou Chengxin added, “Then I’ll accompany Mom and Dad. Second Brother, Sister-in-law, are you two coming?”

Li Xiuxian hadn’t spoken all evening. Hearing this, she finally said, “I’m not going. I’m not a ten-thousand-yuan household, so why would I go?”

The whole family glanced at her.

Zhou Chengsen nudged her foot under the table.

Li Xiuxian collected her emotions and asked, “Dad, how much does a fishing boat as big as the family’s cost now?”

Father Zhou answered, “A new boat would probably cost over ten thousand yuan.”

They had bought the production team’s second-hand boat back then, which was why it was cheaper.

Li Xiuxian made a major decision in her mind. She looked at Zhou Chengsen and said, “Should we order a boat too?”

Zhou Chengsen suppressed his temper. “What would we buy it for? Are you planning to quit being a teacher and come home to fish?”

Li Xiuxian would never come back to fish; being a teacher was much more respectable than being a fisherman, it just didn’t pay well.

“Can’t we just hire people? We can just ask Dad to look after it for us when the time comes.”

Father Zhou naturally wanted his sons to do well. “If you have the money, buying one and hiring people to run it is fine. You can just have it follow our family boat out to sea. We can look after it for you.”

Mother Zhou added, “Yes, I can help you receive the goods at the pier when the time comes.”

Zhou Chenglei said, “You can buy one. It’s cost-effective even if you hire people to pilot it. If your luck is good, you can make your money back in a year.”

Li Xiuxian smiled. “Exactly! Fourth Brother also says it’s a good idea to buy one! It’s just that we don’t have much money right now. Fourth Brother, could you lend some money to me and your Second Brother?”

Chapter 344: Sure Enough, Rich People are Especially Stingy!

The moment Li Xiuxian finished speaking, Tian Caihua blurted out, “Why are you buying one if you don’t have enough money? What family with money wouldn’t want to buy another boat of their own?”

Zhou Chenglei placed a piece of food in Jiang Xia’s bowl, glancing at her to see what she thought. If she wanted to lend the money, they would lend it; if not, they wouldn’t.

Borrowing money was the kind of thing that, if handled poorly, could damage the relationship between brothers. Jiang Xia was naturally not so foolish as to refuse outright.

She asked with a smile, “Is Second Sister-in-law planning to buy a boat as big as the family’s? How much money do you have now? How much more do you need for the deposit?”

Li Xiuxian immediately replied, “We can put forward 3,800 yuan!”

Zhou Chengsen said crossly, “We’re not buying it! We’re not borrowing! If you quit your job and come home to go fishing, then maybe it could be considered. Otherwise, we’re not buying.”

His heart wasn’t in fishing. Going out to sea occasionally was fine, but he couldn’t stand doing it every day.

Did she really think that just by buying a fishing boat and hiring people to go out to sea, everything would be fine?

And she wanted his parents to keep an eye on it?

How many years could his parents help?

Who asks for a long-term favor like that?

Helping out for a day or two, once or twice, is a favor. But over a long period, who would have that kind of patience?

Didn’t other people have their own work to do?

Besides, fishing at sea was risky. If something happened to the people they hired, that was a human life on their hands!

This time, Li Xiuxian would not yield to Zhou Chengsen. Seeing her two sisters-in-law becoming wealthier and wealthier while her own household became the poorest, she was panicking.

She didn’t want to be the poorest in the extended family.

The two of them didn’t have a son as it was. If they remained the poorest in the future, how could she hold her head high?

“Why shouldn’t we buy it? I want to buy it! Xiao Xia, is the deposit half? If the deposit is half, then you only need to lend me 2,000 yuan.”

Jiang Xia replied, “In principle, yes.”

But rules were inanimate things. Hadn’t they only paid a thousand-yuan deposit for a boat worth millions?

So, in this world, everything depended on human effort.

Zhou Chengsen said, “Fine, buy it if you want, but don’t borrow money to do it! Don’t bite off more than you can chew! Chenglei, Xiao Xia, don’t lend her any money! Big Brother, Big Sister-in-law, don’t lend her any either! If you do, it will just cause conflict between us as a couple! It will ruin our relationship!”

The two of them couldn’t even save 2,000 yuan in a year. If they had to borrow just to pay the deposit, what about the remaining half of the balance?

Would they have to borrow for that too?

Since he was young, Zhou Chengsen never liked the idea of borrowing money to live a proper life. He liked stability and steady progress; he didn’t like being aggressive!

Wasn’t their life together good right now?

Stable jobs, decent income, obedient children, and a modest amount of savings—he really liked this way of life.

Li Xiuxian: “…”

She was truly about to be driven to death by Zhou Chengsen’s stubbornness!

Father Zhou spoke up. “Alright, let’s eat first. Whether to buy the boat or not, you two discuss it and decide later.”

Zhou Chengsen insisted, “There’s nothing to discuss. Regardless, if it involves borrowing money, I absolutely won’t buy it. Xiao Xia, don’t lend it! Chenglei, you’re not allowed to lend it. No one is allowed to lend it!”

Li Xiuxian was so angry she couldn’t even swallow her food!

Zhou Chengsen only knew how to work against her!

After dinner, Li Xiuxian took advantage of the time Zhou Chengsen was bathing to knock on Jiang Xia and her husband’s door.

Jiang Xia was just about to soak her feet, with one foot already in the wooden basin.

Zhou Chenglei was rolling up the pant leg of her other leg. “Is the water too hot?”

“No, it’s just right.”

The cold air had arrived over the past couple of days, and it grew increasingly chilly after nightfall. Jiang Xia had bathed early after returning from the sea, and by now, her feet were a bit icy.

So, Zhou Chenglei had brought a basin of hot water for her to soak them. It wouldn’t be comfortable to sleep until they were warmed up.

Most importantly, he hadn’t bathed yet and wouldn’t be able to go to sleep until later, so he couldn’t warm her feet for her.

Hearing the knock, both of them looked toward the door.

After rolling up her pant leg, Zhou Chenglei stood up to open it.

Seeing it was Li Xiuxian, Zhou Chenglei wasn’t surprised. “Second Sister-in-law, what is it?”

“I want to have a word with Xiao Xia.”

Li Xiuxian knew that in the Fourth Brother’s house, Jiang Xia was the one who made the decisions.

Hearing this, Jiang Xia said, “Come in, Second Sister-in-law!”

Zhou Chenglei stepped aside to let Li Xiuxian into the room, then he picked up the bowl Jiang Xia had used for her milk and walked out.

Li Xiuxian closed the door and looked at Jiang Xia with a smile. “Fourth Brother was about to wash your feet for you?”

To be honest, among the several sisters-in-law, she envied Jiang Xia the most.

Zhou Chenglei was not like Zhou Chengsen. He was an outlier among the brothers. Clearly the coldest and most difficult to talk to, yet he was the most doting on his wife. He listened to her in everything and couldn’t bear to let her do any work.

It seemed that only a man who listened to his wife could prosper!

Jiang Xia said, “My feet were a bit cold, so he went to get me some hot water to warm them up.”

“Among the brothers, Fourth Brother is still the most considerate and knows how to care for his wife.”

When she was pregnant with Zhou Ying, she still had to go to class. Although Tian Caihua or Mother Zhou would have already prepared the food by the time she got home, she still had to wash the dishes. If she didn’t, Tian Caihua would give her a dark look.

Meanwhile, everyone in the family protected Jiang Xia. Even Tian Caihua didn’t let her do chores.

As expected, one only gets pampered if they have money!

Jiang Xia smiled. “Sit down, Second Sister-in-law!”

Li Xiuxian sat down in the chair by the window desk.

The books on the desk were all in foreign languages, each one featuring different scripts.

Every pen, every drop of ink, every book, and every lamp had its place.

The scholarly atmosphere was palpable!

It looked more like a desk than the one she used for preparing lessons.

She couldn’t help but glance around Jiang Xia’s room.

Cozy and elegant, clean and tidy.

There were many bottles and jars on the dressing table; one set probably cost more than Zhou Chengsen’s entire monthly salary.

And there were the blankets and sheets on the bed—silk brocade covers that clearly came from the department store. They looked soft and beautiful.

They weren’t like hers; she used those rose-red peony-print sheets that were sold all over the streets!

Thus, she had to find a way to make money to live a good life!

She couldn’t let Zhou Chengsen call the shots anymore!

By listening to him, even Tian Caihua was living better than she was!

She was determined to buy that boat!

“Xiao Xia, I still want to order the boat. Now that the children are older, there are more and more places to spend money. Relying solely on our salaries barely covers our basic needs. Help me out, lend me some money, and tomorrow you can accompany me to secretly place the order. What do you think?”

“Your Second Brother is too content with the status quo; he has no ambition. He’s also suffering for the sake of saving face and won’t borrow money! But if we don’t buy a boat, when everyone else in the village is making a fortune from fishing, our family will be the poorest.”

Jiang Xia said, “Second Brother is a leader; he’s different from us ordinary people. He is strict with himself and has high integrity. He probably feels that borrowing money isn’t right.”

Li Xiuxian was naturally proud of Zhou Chengsen’s job.

Because Zhou Chengsen was a leader, which of her colleagues didn’t respect her a little more? Who didn’t envy her?

But back in the village, she was completely overshadowed by her two sisters-in-law!

“He’s just suffering for the sake of his pride! That’s why I’m buying the boat; I don’t care about him! Xiao Xia, tomorrow you accompany me to secretly order it. Once it’s ordered, he won’t be able to say anything.”

“Second Sister-in-law, Second Brother has spoken, and I wouldn’t dare to lend you money in secret. Talk it over properly with him tonight. You don’t have to order it secretly; I could…”

“There’s no discussing it with your Second Brother! He can’t be reasoned with! He’s completely unreasonable! He simply doesn’t want to order the boat, so he said those things on purpose! I can only act first and report later!”

Li Xiuxian felt unhappy. Was Jiang Xia’s response a way of planning not to lend the money?

Sure enough, rich people are especially stingy!

Chapter 345: A Way to Make Money

Jiang Xia said, “Second Sister-in-law, don’t worry, let me finish. Second Brother already said he won’t buy a boat if it means borrowing money. But I can help you apply for an installment plan with the shipyard. That way, you won’t need to borrow money to order a boat.”

Li Xiuxian didn’t quite understand. “What do you mean by installment payments?”

“The two boats we ordered recently were bought on installment,” Jiang Xia explained. “After all, they cost over a million yuan total, and the deposit alone was more than six hundred thousand. There was no way we could earn that much money so quickly, so we reached an agreement with the shipyard. We’re paying off the deposit over one or two years, and we won’t take delivery of the boats until the final balance is paid in full. Chenglei and I were lucky enough to go to the Canton Fair and earn enough for the deposit in one go; otherwise, we wouldn’t have known when we could pay it off. We still owe the shipyard six hundred and fifty thousand yuan in balance payments, which we also plan to pay off gradually in installments.”

Li Xiuxian understood now. “But what if you haven’t saved enough money by the delivery deadline?”

“The shipyard doesn’t worry about being unable to sell their boats,” Jiang Xia replied. “They would help us resell our spot. If the resale is successful, the deposit can be refunded. If they can’t resell it, we’d just wait until we’ve saved enough money before taking the boat. But usually, reselling isn’t an issue. Boat prices rise every year. As soon as news breaks that someone has canceled an order, people scramble to buy it. It’s just like our current big boat—someone else had canceled their order, and we had to compete with others to buy it.”

Li Xiuxian understood completely. She asked again, “Can you really pay the deposit in installments?”

“Others can’t,” Jiang Xia said. “But I’m well-acquainted with the director, so I can try to negotiate for you. You should discuss it with Second Brother!”

Li Xiuxian felt relieved and smiled. “Then I’ll go talk it over with your Second Brother.”

Zhou Chengsen had one good trait: he never went back on his word.

This boat was as good as bought!

Actually, if possible, she didn’t want to borrow money either. Borrowing meant having to lower herself to others! It would make her feel like she owed Jiang Xia. Who wants to owe someone a favor? Paying the deposit in installments was much better.

Jiang Xia added, “Second Sister-in-law, is there a convenience store near your school?”

“No, why?”

“If you want to earn a bit more money, you could rent a shop inside the school or near the entrance. You could open a convenience store and sell snacks and stationery. My younger brother opened one near his school in the capital, and business is quite good.”

Li Xiuxian replied, “Elementary schoolers can’t be compared to college students. What kind of money do little kids have? They buy snacks that cost only one or two cents—how can you make a profit off that? I’d rather focus on buying the boat. I’ll go back to my room and discuss things with your Second Brother. I won’t disturb your rest any longer!”

How could running a convenience store compare to the money made from fishing? If she spent her money on a shop, what would she have left to buy a boat?

Hearing this, Jiang Xia said nothing more.

While you wouldn’t get rich opening a convenience store near a school, the income was quite respectable and, more importantly, stable. As the general standard of living improved, parents would be more willing to give their children pocket money, so business would only get better.

But since Li Xiuxian looked down on it, she let it drop. If anyone in the family were free, she would have wanted to open one herself.

Shortly after Li Xiuxian left, Zhou Chenglei returned to the room.

Seeing Jiang Xia lost in thought, he picked up a towel and knelt down to dry her feet. “What are you thinking about?”

Jiang Xia snapped out of it and reached for the towel. “I’ll do it myself.”

“It’s all the same.” Zhou Chenglei avoided her hand, grasped her ankle, wrapped it in the towel, and carefully dried her foot. “If you’re happy to lend the money, lend it. If not, don’t. It doesn’t matter. Second Brother doesn’t really want to buy a boat anyway; he never liked going out to sea to fish since he was a child. He always preferred studying.”

Jiang Xia said, “No, Second Brother said he wouldn’t borrow it, so I won’t lend it. If Second Sister-in-law wants to order a boat, she can do it via installments at the shipyard. I told them to discuss it together.”

“That’s fine then,” Zhou Chenglei said. “You don’t need to worry about her.”

After one foot was dry, Jiang Xia pulled it back onto the bed and sat cross-legged, watching Zhou Chenglei dry the other. “I thought of a way to make money and suggested it to her, but she wasn’t interested. I think it’s a bit of a pity.”

“What kind of way?”

Jiang Xia told him about opening a convenience store near the school. “It’s a shame no one in our family has the time to do it.”

Zhou Chenglei suggested, “Why don’t you ask Great-Grandpa if he wants to do it?”

Jiang Xia’s eyes lit up. “Right!”

How had she not thought of Great-Grandpa?

After finishing the work on their new house, Great-Grandpa was out of work again and had to go back to the city to find odd jobs. Working in the city was hard labor and only paid two yuan a day. It would be much better to run a convenience store and live a stable life. A shop could definitely earn more than two yuan a day.

“I’ll ask him tomorrow.”

“Mhm.” Zhou Chenglei nudged her foot, signaling her to pull it back.

Jiang Xia pulled her foot onto the bed, took off her loungewear, handed it to Zhou Chenglei, and crawled under the covers.

The bed was warm. Zhou Chenglei had bought two new hot water bottles from the village convenience store, filled them with boiling water, and tucked them under the blankets.

Zhou Chenglei folded Jiang Xia’s jacket neatly and set it aside. He then carried the wooden basin outside to empty the water before returning to grab his clothes for a shower. By the time he returned, Jiang Xia was already asleep.

In the warm bed, Jiang Xia’s fair face was flushed pink from sleep.

Zhou Chenglei took a translated manuscript and the original book back to the bed and sat up, covered by the quilt. He checked for any errors or omissions, making sure not to lean too close to Jiang Xia yet.

By the time he finished checking the text and making a few corrections, his body had warmed up. He put the books away, removed the two hot water bottles, turned off the light, and slipped under the covers. He waited a moment longer for his body to be fully warm before carefully pulling Jiang Xia into his arms.

The moment he held her, Jiang Xia instinctively pressed closer to him, treating him like a heated body pillow.

In the winter, having him there was truly warm.

In the darkness, Zhou Chenglei kissed the top of her head. With his chin resting against her hair, he held her close, closed his eyes, and soon fell asleep.

Early the next morning, the members of the Zhou family were up at dawn.

With so many people, there was inevitably quite a bit of noise. Jiang Xia was woken up by the commotion.

Zhou Chenglei had already gotten up to go for a run. As long as he wasn’t going out to sea, he never missed his daily hour of exercise.

Jiang Xia sat up and threw back the quilt, noticing her clothes lying where he had been sleeping. These past few days had been cold, and every morning he would pick out her outfit and place it in his warm spot so that when she got up, her clothes would be toasted and warm.

Jiang Xia put on the red sweater that carried his warmth and scent, got out of bed, and went to the wardrobe to find a short, white down jacket.

After getting dressed and combing her hair, she walked out.

The moment she stepped out of the room, Father Zhou asked, “Xiao Xia, how do I look in this outfit?”

Mother Zhou brought in a pot of porridge and said with a smile, “Quick, pick an outfit for your father. He got up at five o’clock and hasn’t stopped changing clothes since!”

Father Zhou had changed through seven or eight outfits since early morning, unable to decide which to wear. All of them were new clothes Jiang Xia had bought for him. There was a down jacket, a suit, a wool coat, a quilted jacket, a trench coat, a Zhongshan suit, and even a leather jacket.

The fabrics were so high-quality that Father Zhou usually couldn’t bear to wear them. Today, he wished he could wear them all at once. If he wasn’t afraid of what people would say, he would have brought every outfit along and changed every half hour.

Currently, he was wearing a cashmere sweater and a down jacket that Jiang Xia had bought for him in Suicheng. He looked very sharp.

Jiang Xia smiled. “You look handsome and very sharp! I bought one of these down jackets for everyone, so we can all wear them today. Dad, you can wear your suit under the down jacket. That way, if everyone is wearing suits on stage, you can just take the jacket off.”

Father Zhou’s eyes lit up. “Right! That’s it! I’ll go change into the suit right now!”

This way, he could wear both the suit and the down jacket!

Neither the suit nor the down jacket was cheap. For the whole family to appear at the ten-thousand-yuan household commendation ceremony in down jackets… Just thinking about that image made Father Zhou feel like he wasn’t wearing clothes, but was wearing a motorcycle on his back!

Chapter 346: Breakfast

Breakfast consisted of sweet potato, fresh shrimp, and sea cucumber porridge, along with stir-fried rice noodles.

After Jiang Xia sat down, Zhou Chenglei came in carrying a bowl of bird’s nest in milk and two cups of milk.

Li Xiuxian cast a glance at that bowl of bird’s nest.

Zhou Chenglei placed the bird’s nest in front of Jiang Xia and gave the enamel cups of milk to his two nieces.

The bird’s nest had been brought back from the Jiang family home. Mother Jiang had specially bought it, insisting that Jiang Xia eat a bowl every morning on an empty stomach, saying it was good for the baby.

Zhou Chenglei hadn’t known about this before, but now that he did, he had already called Second Brother Zhang to help him buy more.

As for the sea cucumbers, Zhou Chenglei had noticed that Jiang Xia’s health had indeed improved after eating them for a while. Because of this, he had specially taken the large boat to an area rich in sea cucumbers and dived for them himself. He and his crew had caught 50 kg of it to bring back and dry, and he also bought 5 kg of dried sea cucumber to bring home so that Jiang Xia could eat one every day.

Father Zhou later went out and gathered tens of kilograms more to dry as well.

In today’s large pot of porridge, Mother Zhou had added three sea cucumbers, finely chopped.

Zhou Zhou didn’t like eating sea cucumber; she thought they looked scary and didn’t dare touch them, so Mother Zhou didn’t put any in her bowl, only shrimp.

Li Xiuxian served some porridge for Zhou Ying, filling it with many pieces of sea cucumber.

Zhou Ying didn’t dare eat it either, but seeing so much in her bowl, she pushed it toward Li Xiuxian. “Mom, I don’t want to eat this black stuff.”

“Eat it. This is delicious, and it’s good for your health.”

Zhou Ying shook her head. “I don’t want it. I’m scared to eat it, it’s too ugly.”

“Eat!” Li Xiuxian glared at her.

Zhou Ying looked like she was about to cry but didn’t dare to.

Zhou Chengsen spoke up, “If Yingying is afraid to eat it, then don’t make her. Why are you forcing her?”

He took his daughter’s bowl and picked the sea cucumber out into his own.

Then he noticed that Li Xiuxian had actually served their daughter so many pieces of sea cucumber. His face flushed with embarrassment.

Li Xiuxian clearly wanted to scoop every piece of sea cucumber in the pot into her daughter’s bowl!

Did she not know that A-Lei had specially gone out to sea to get these for Jiang Xia to nourish her body?

How could she have the nerve?

Li Xiuxian snapped, “Don’t you know your daughter is always catching colds in the winter? Xiao Xia’s health got better after eating it, didn’t it? That’s why I want her to eat more!”

Zhou Chengsen didn’t even want to argue anymore.

Why did a child need such heavy supplements? Whose child needed nourishment like this?

If she spent more time rolling in the mud in the village, running on the beach, and soaking in the seawater, her health would naturally improve!

Li Xiuxian turned to Jiang Xia. “Xiao Xia, what are the benefits of eating that bird’s nest?”

Li Xiuxian looked at Jiang Xia’s bowl of bird’s nest and thought back to when she was pregnant with her daughter; it was sweet potato porridge every day, and even the dried shrimp in it were few and far between.

Jiang Xia had bird’s nest and milk in the morning, fish maw and milk at night, sea cucumber every day, and lavish meals of fish and meat at every turn. As soon as she finished a meal, she was already eating strawberries. The house had crates of fruit, cabinets full of snacks, and large bags of beef and pork jerky prepared just in case she got hungry. With this kind of treatment, someone who didn’t know better would think she was carrying a national treasure!

Jiang Xia replied, “My mother told me to eat a bowl every day, saying it’s good for the baby.”

Mother Zhou was worried Li Xiuxian would think she was being biased. When the wives of the first and second sons were pregnant, the family’s situation wasn’t as good, so they naturally hadn’t eaten as well as Jiang Xia.

Moreover, this wasn’t something the family had bought.

She explained, “Chenglei got up early to stew it. He said his mother-in-law specially bought it for Xiao Xia, wanting her to have a bowl every morning. Is it for stabilizing the pregnancy?”

Bird’s nest probably wasn’t for stabilizing a pregnancy, so Jiang Xia said, “It’s supposed to be good for the baby’s skin.”

Li Xiuxian looked at Jiang Xia’s fair, tender skin. “No wonder your skin is so good. Does it work on adults’ skin too?”

Jiang Xia nodded. “If you eat it long-term, it probably helps a bit.”

Li Xiuxian said, “Then I’ll buy some to eat too. How much does a 500-gram bag cost?”

Her skin was considered fair compared to the other women in the village, but it couldn’t compare to Jiang Xia’s. Next to Jiang Xia, she felt like she was made of soot.

Zhou Chenglei peeled a boiled egg and placed it in Jiang Xia’s porridge. He knew better than anyone just how good her skin was; the feeling was etched into him. It seemed he should continue stewing it for her every day even after she gave birth.

If they had a daughter, the girl could eat it with her every day as well.

Jiang Xia shook her head. “I don’t know, I’ve never bought it.”

Li Xiuxian said, “Then we’ll go to the mall and check when we go to the city later. We need to leave early; we still have to go to the shipyard to order the boat today and look at sofas.”

Zhou Chengsen had kept his word and finally relented, saying they could buy it if there was an installment plan, but she wasn’t to think about bothering his parents or brothers afterward!

Fine, if she didn’t bother them, she wouldn’t. Her father was free; she’d just have her father help look after things.

Zhou Chenglei said, “We aren’t going to the mall today. Second Sister-in-law, if you want to buy bird’s nest, you should check the specialty health food shops.”

Between looking at sofas and going to the shipyard, how could Jiang Xia handle all that?

Li Xiuxian asked, “A-Lei, have you bought it? How much is it per 500-gram?”

Zhou Chenglei replied, “The cheaper ones are over a hundred, more expensive ones are over two hundred, and the broken pieces are several dozen yuan.”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Forget it!

She couldn’t afford it!

So, how much money was Jiang Xia eating away with a bowl every single day?

As expected, one had to work hard to make money to be able to eat bird’s nest without blinking an eye.

Zhou Chenglei asked Zhou Chengsen, “Decided on ordering the boat?”

“As long as we don’t have to borrow money, I’ll go along with your sister-in-law’s wishes.”

Yesterday, he hadn’t known about the installment plan, so he had agreed.

Zhou Chenglei nodded. “If you’re short on the final payment later, let me know.”

Li Xiuxian breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Chengsen added, “If we don’t have enough money, we’ll just cancel the order.”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

He was truly enough to drive her mad!

She didn’t understand why Zhou Chengsen was so stubborn, insisting that they shouldn’t borrow money to live a proper life except in cases of birth, aging, illness, or death.

She found that out of the Zhou brothers, he was the most pigheaded.

Once he said something, that was it!

Father and Mother Zhou didn’t say anything, but the two elders had discussed it last night. They planned to give each son and daughter-in-law a red envelope of one thousand yuan for the New Year.

Since all three sons were buying new boats, they would subsidize each of them with an additional two thousand.

Father Zhou had also made quite a lot of money this year. He was now a true ten-thousand-yuan household himself.

After breakfast, the first branch of the family also arrived, dressed in new clothes.

Tian Caihua handed a lunch box to Jiang Xia. “Xiao Xia, I fried some sweet potato pancakes. Try them and see if they’re good. It’s good to eat sweet potatoes when you’re pregnant. Especially in the later stages—if the baby is too small or not heavy enough, eating some sweet potato helps the baby in the womb grow faster. That’s what happened when I was pregnant with Wenzu. In the later period, the doctor said the baby wasn’t heavy enough and told me to eat more sweet potatoes at home. Wenzu was born weighing over 3.5 kilograms! A big, fat boy!”

Jiang Xia took it and smiled. “Alright, thank you, Big Sister-in-law. I’ll take them to eat on the way. I really can’t eat another bite right now.”

She was already stuffed.

Zhou Chenglei had just prepared a box of oranges and some tangerines, along with a bunch of bananas.

The oranges were already peeled and separated into segments in a container, making it easy for Jiang Xia to eat whenever she wanted.

There were no more strawberries left at home, but he had called Jiang Yang, who would be delivering some to the city today.

When Zhou Chenglei came in carrying a hand basket, Jiang Xia handed him the container. “Big Sister-in-law made sweet potato pancakes.”

Zhou Chenglei placed them in the basket. “Let’s go!”

He had already pushed the motorcycle out the door.

Jiang Xia went out to find Zhou Zhou.

Li Xiuxian finished combing her daughter’s hair and quickly nudged Zhou Ying, whispering, “Quick, go tell your uncle you want to ride the motorcycle to the city. The motorcycle is more comfortable.”

Since her own daughter wasn’t riding, Zhou Zhou ended up taking the seat.

Chapter 347: Showing Off

Li Xiuxian hoped her daughter would get closer to Jiang Xia.

Zhou Zhou spent every day around the fourth brother and his wife, so the couple was naturally very fond of her.

Since her own daughter rarely came back, out of all the nieces and nephews, the couple was the least close to her.

Look at Zhou Zhou now—Jiang Xia had dressed her up like a little princess! She looked more like a city girl than the girls actually living in the city.

Furthermore, Jiang Xia had taken Guangzong, Yaozu, and the others to the city before and bought them a mountain of things. Only Yingying had received nothing!

If she let her daughter stick by Jiang Xia’s side this time, Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei would surely remember that Yingying was also their niece, wouldn’t they?

However, Zhou Ying didn’t understand her mother’s painstaking efforts. She twisted her body, evading Li Xiuxian’s hand. “No, I want to ride the tractor with my brothers.”

With that, she ran outside.

She had already ridden a motorcycle, but she had only been on a tractor once and really wanted to ride it again.

Li Xiuxian felt helpless. The production team’s tractor carried everything; it was filthy! She was afraid Zhou Ying and the boys would play around on the tractor and end up covered in dirt, looking like a common country girl!

Now that they were coming back more often, Zhou Ying was becoming increasingly wild.

Outside, Jiang Xia found Zhou Zhou in the courtyard, sharing candies and melon seeds with Zhou Wenzu and his brothers.

The children’s pockets were stuffed full of seeds, candies, and other small snacks, all prepared to be eaten on the tractor.

When Zhou Ying ran out, Zhou Wenzong gave her her portion and helped stuff them into her coat pockets.

Li Xiuxian followed them out and saw Zhou Wenzong stuffing a handful of melon seeds into her daughter’s pocket; her expression stiffened for a moment.

Jiang Xia asked Zhou Zhou, “Zhou Zhou, do you want to ride the motorcycle or the tractor?”

Zhou Wenzu chimed in, “Auntie, Zhou Zhou is coming with us on the tractor. The trailer is fun! You can’t move around on a motorcycle, and we’ve all prepared good food to eat on the way.”

Zhou Zhou agreed, “I’m riding the tractor with my brothers.”

“Alright then, but don’t play around too much back there. You might fall off!”

Zhou Wenzu replied, “We know! We’re not stupid!”

Jiang Xia didn’t know whether to be annoyed or laugh.

However, for children, a tractor was indeed more fun, so Jiang Xia let them be.

Jiang Xia said to Mother Zhou, “Mom, Zhou Zhou is going with you on the tractor. Keep an eye on the kids so they don’t fall off.”

Children were mischievous, and she was afraid they would get too excited and accidentally tumble out of the trailer.

“Alright, don’t worry, I’ll watch them.”

Father Zhou, looking grand and high-spirited, tucked in his clothes. “Is everyone ready? Let’s move. it’s almost seven o’clock, and the production team’s tractor won’t wait for us.”

And so, the whole family, dressed in their finest, walked toward the production team. They looked even more polished than if they were going to a wedding feast.

Because they were taking the motorcycle, Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei were the last to leave so they could lock up.

Jiang Xia had left a set of house keys with Great-Grandma, asking her to keep an eye on the place.

When the family arrived at the production team, Zhou Bingqiang’s family was already on the tractor.

Not everyone from Zhou Bingqiang’s family was going. Zhou Bingqiang only brought a few daughters-in-law, some grandsons, and Zhou Guohua and Wen Wan. His other sons had all gone out to sea to earn money.

Father Zhou greeted Zhou Bingqiang with a smile. “You’re all here so early? Sorry, have you been waiting long? It’s all because of these little rascals—one minute they wanted to wear this outfit, the next they wanted that one. They couldn’t wait to put on all their new clothes at once. That’s what took us so long.”

Zhou Bingqiang’s mouth twitched. “I think you’re the one who changed clothes several times, and that’s why it took so long.”

Father Zhou chuckled. “You’re right! I did change a few times. I couldn’t help it—A-Lei’s wife bought me seven or eight sets of new clothes, and every single one is so nice. I didn’t know which to pick, so I tried them all. In the end, A-Lei’s wife said the weather is cold today, so we might as well all wear our down jackets to stay warm on the tractor. And I tell you, these down jackets are really warm! I’m practically sweating! Items from the Canton Fair really are top-quality.”

Having been accidentally “flexed” on by Father Zhou again, Zhou Bingqiang didn’t want to speak.

He had also gotten up early to rummage through his wardrobe, trying on several outfits before finding one that looked relatively new.

If he had known, he would have bought a new set of clothes just so he wouldn’t have to look at Zhou Yongfu’s gloating face!

Father Zhou and his sons helped hoist the grandchildren onto the tractor.

Mother Zhou warned from the side, “Be careful! Don’t get your clothes dirty. These are brand new; don’t ruin them on the first day, or you won’t look good for the photos later!”

When Zhou Bingqiang’s wife saw the Zhou family arrive and practically fill the entire tractor, and then heard Father Zhou’s blatant and subtle boasting, she couldn’t help but purse her lips. “It’s just a small commendation ceremony. Does your whole family really need to make such a big scene? Aren’t you afraid people will say you’ve never seen the world?”

Father Zhou laughed heartily. “This is the ‘world’ my family isn’t afraid to see! We wish we could attend a ten-thousand-yuan household commendation ceremony in every city! But sister-in-law, you’ve misunderstood this time.”

“Our whole family isn’t just going for the ceremony today. A-Sen is going to order a boat.”

Zhou Bingqiang: “…”

Buying another new boat? Was there no end to this?

Father Zhou continued, “After ordering the boat, they’re going with A-Lei to order leather sofas. Isn’t A-Lei’s new house almost finished? Xiao Xia wants to buy sofas, and the wives of my eldest and second sons want to get new ones for their homes too, so they agreed to go look together.”

“Oh, by the way, Guohua, your house is finished too. Have you bought the furniture yet? Do you want to come with A-Lei to look at sofas? Xiao Xia said if we buy five or more sets, we can get a better discount. My three-story house needs one for each floor, plus one for the eldest and one for the second—that’s exactly five sets, so we can get the factory-gate price. If you want to buy, you can join us. Otherwise, you might miss out on this deal!”

Zhou Guohua replied, “No need, I’ve already bought mine.”

During the previous market day, he and Wen Wan had gone to the town’s timber shop to order furniture for the whole house.

The town didn’t have leather sofas. Although the solid wood sofa he bought was made from ordinary cedar, including the wardrobes, beds, dining table, and coffee table, the total still came to over a thousand yuan.

Not many people who built a new house had the ability to furnish it entirely with new items.

Wen Wan had originally been quite satisfied with it, but now she felt annoyed.

The tractor was jolting about, and Wen Wan was very uncomfortable; her irritation only grew.

A genuine leather sofa and a wooden sofa felt completely different!

If Jiang Xia hadn’t caused her to sprain her foot, she could have afforded a leather sofa too.

Thinking about it made Wen Wan angry. She decided to just take out her foreign language book and read.

Since she was pregnant, she had applied for a leave of absence from school. She was studying at home to prepare for next year’s Gaokao, and also doing some translation work to earn money and improve her foreign language skills.

She didn’t need much preparation for next year’s Gaokao since she had already reviewed all the material. The most important thing was to improve her foreign language proficiency.

By the time the spring Canton Fair rolled around next year, she wanted to earn hundreds of thousands as well.

If Jiang Xia could do it, she didn’t believe she couldn’t.

She was clearly more capable than Jiang Xia in her past life!

Chapter 348: The Feeling of Becoming Overnight Wealthy

Zhou Chenglei handled the motorcycle steadily, easily outpacing the rattling tractor.

As he sped past, several of his nephews and nieces waved and cheered loudly at the couple. For children, a family outing was always a joyous occasion.

Jiang Xia smiled and waved back at them.

The weather was freezing, and their exhaled breath turned into mist. Jiang Xia noticed a thin layer of white frost covering the fields.

Wen Wan glanced at Jiang Xia—the red scarf, the snow-white down jacket, the sheepskin gloves…

She was dressed in new clothes from head to toe.

Seeing Jiang Xia bundled up so tightly that only her eyes were visible, Zhou Guohua thought she looked very warm.

Wen Wan, on the other hand, was only wearing a thin quilted jacket and a sweater. She had refused to wear the thick, floral-patterned jacket his mother had made for her, complaining that it looked too rustic.

He took out an old quilted jacket he had prepared earlier and draped it over Wen Wan’s shoulders.

“It’s already frosting over. Until the sun comes out, it’s going to be freezing.”

Wen Wan caught the stale, aged scent of the old jacket and pushed it away in disgust. “I’m not cold.”

Living in denial didn’t make it true. To read her book, she had left her fingers exposed, and they had quickly turned bright red from the cold.

Only a useless man makes his wife wear old clothes!

Wen Wan watched the motorcycle as it disappeared into the distance.

It was a pity her rebirth had happened a step later than Jiang Xia’s, allowing Jiang Xia to get there first. Otherwise, the person sitting on the back of Zhou Chenglei’s motorcycle right now would have been her.

The bitter wind was biting. Jiang Xia leaned close to Zhou Chenglei’s ear and asked, “Are you cold? Should I give you my scarf?”

As she spoke, she began to untie it.

Zhou Chenglei replied, “I’m not cold. I’m actually hot—I’m almost sweating. If you don’t believe me, feel the back of my neck.”

He had never been particularly sensitive to the cold. Nowadays, he had an excess of energy and a fire burning within him that had nowhere to go, making him feel the cold even less. Sometimes he felt so hot he wished he were in the northernmost tip of the country, where he could hack through a layer of ice and dive in for a few laps.

Jiang Xia pulled off a glove and reached out to touch the back of his neck. He was indeed on the verge of sweating.

“If you’re cold, lean against me and put your hands in my pockets.”

Jiang Xia wasn’t actually cold, but she felt a bit sleepy. She felt as though she were carrying three lazy little gluttons inside her, as she felt drowsy every time she finished a meal.

She tucked her hands into his down jacket pockets and rested her forehead against his shoulder to shield herself from the wind. Even through her gloves, she could feel the warmth inside the pockets.

This man was like a sun, perpetually burning hot.

Upon arriving in the city, the first thing Zhou Chenglei did was take Jiang Xia to submit her translation manuscript. After collecting over four hundred yuan in translation fees, they headed to the mall to find Zhang Rong.

He had arranged to meet Jiang Yang at the jewelry store. By the time they arrived, Jiang Yang was already waiting.

Jiang Yang had brought a large basket of strawberries and four large woven sacks of fruit. It wasn’t clear what all the fruits were, but judging by the shapes, two of the bags seemed to be pomelos.

Zhang Rong gestured for them to sit and joked with a smile, “It’s only thanks to my sister-in-law that I finally get a bite of fruit! This kid grew so much fruit, but this is the first time I’ve even seen a shadow of it this year!”

Zhang Rong pointed toward the woven sacks in the corner.

Jiang Yang hurriedly replied, “My mistake, my mistake. From now on, I’ll bring some for Second Brother every year.”

Jiang Xia also laughed. “Is Second Brother hinting that I usually show up empty-handed? Luckily, I brought some fried fish this time.”

Zhou Chenglei placed two woven sacks on the floor, giving one to each of them.

Zhang Rong waved his hand. “I don’t need the fried fish! Just bring me more pearls and jade!”

Jiang Xia sat down with a smile. “I wish I could.”

Jiang Yang asked Zhou Chenglei, “Boss, when are we heading out to sea?”

He had been resting for several days and wanted to go out to earn more money to build a new house next year.

Zhou Chenglei reached out to steady Jiang Xia, using his other hand to shield her knee from bumping into the coffee table. “We’ll wait until the weather warms up. It’s too cold right now.”

Jiang Yang sighed. “This hellish weather. Who knows when it’ll warm up!”

Jiang Xia added, “It should get warmer in a few days.”

“I hope so! The fruit in the orchard is all ripe, but no one wants to buy it when it’s this cold, and it might freeze. Anyway, I’m heading home. I still need to pick the persimmons in the orchard to make dried persimmon cakes.”

Jiang Yang wanted to sell as much of the ripe fruit as possible before heading out to sea, so he had been quite busy at home lately.

The three of them nodded.

After Jiang Yang left, Zhang Rong brought up the matter of the two pieces of jade.

“After cutting them open, I decided to follow an old master’s advice. We’ll put one piece up for auction as is, but we’ll have the master turn the other piece into finished products before auctioning them. So far, he’s carved three bangles. Two of them are flawless—absolute top-tier gems. Once the remaining pieces are finished into a complete set, we’ll auction them together. The masters are working overtime right now for a large international jewelry auction in December. I’m telling you, the price will be a heavenly sum beyond your imagination! I had a designer from Hong Kong create the styles, and the blueprints are stunning. Gorgeous, grand, brilliant, and eye-catching…”

“Master Jiang said that in his decades of working with jade, he has never seen a raw stone better than yours. To think it produced three emerald-green bangles! Two might have some slight color variations, but don’t worry—Master Jiang is confident that even with variations, they are top-quality jade bangles and will fetch an incredible price. Not to mention, that raw stone is so large that we can make many more pieces from it. It just needs careful carving, so it will take some time.”

Jiang Xia didn’t know much about jade; she had never worn it in her previous life. But she had heard how valuable emerald-green jade bangles could be. She said, “I’ll leave it to Second Brother’s judgment.”

“Guess how much the other raw stone sold for at auction?”

Seeing him struggle to contain his excitement, Jiang Xia ventured, “One million?”

Zhang Rong shook his head. “Guess again!”

Jiang Xia really couldn’t tell. She hadn’t even seen the full stone, so how could she guess? She smiled. “Second Brother, stop keeping us in suspense. I can’t guess it.”

Zhang Rong looked at Zhou Chenglei. “You guess.”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t feel like playing. “I have no idea.”

Zhang Rong declared, “I knew you wouldn’t get it! Two point eight million! A wealthy businessman from Hong Kong bought it for two point eight million! Haha… are you excited? Surprised?”

“It’s a good thing we cut it all open. There was a huge bidding war… in the end, it was snatched up by a very powerful boss from Hong Kong. I heard his wife likes purple, so he didn’t hesitate to pay a high price. Every time someone tried to outbid him, he followed up without a moment’s hesitation…”

Zhang Rong vividly described the scene.

Jiang Xia listened with a smile.

How could she not be happy? This was exactly what it felt like to become wealthy overnight!

After taxes and commissions, there would still be over two point five million left.

Zhang Rong took a file bag out of the safe and handed it to Zhou Chenglei. “These are the partnership contracts for the Commercial Trade Building and the related application materials. Take a look and see if you want to take a stake. Think about how much you want to invest, and then sign it.”

Zhou Chenglei said, “I trust your recommendation.”

“Still, have a look.”

Zhou Chenglei opened the file bag and shifted his seat to sit right next to Jiang Xia, reading it with her.

The two of them read through it carefully, word by word.

When investing millions, one had to be thorough.

Both of them were fast readers. Jiang Xia finished first and found no issues.

Since their investment was relatively small, they would be minority shareholders with no real decision-making power, essentially just waiting for dividends. However, it would take three years for the building to go from completion to being operational.

When Zhou Chenglei finished reading, Jiang Xia asked, “What do you think?”

Chapter 349: Leaving the Best for Jiang Xia

Zhou Chenglei said, “Second Brother’s recommendation won’t be wrong. It’s worth the investment.”

This was the city’s first skyscraper, a building constructed specifically to serve as a gateway for foreign trade. It was among the top tier of buildings in all of China and could be said to possess epoch-making significance.

A building like this was destined for glory, destined to stand tall and firm.

Moreover, even if it was a joint-stock venture, not everyone could invest. It wasn’t something where money alone was enough to buy a way in.

Zhang Rong wouldn’t cheat him, nor would he offer this opportunity to just anyone.

Jiang Xia asked, “Second Brother, do we just need to sign our names?”

She knew that landmark buildings from this era would remain standing, prosperous and flourishing, for decades to come. Naturally, Jiang Xia knew it was worth the investment.

She also knew that without Zhang Rong looking out for them, such a good opportunity would never have fallen into their laps.

Zhang Rong was pleased by their trust. “These are just the preliminary cooperation agreements to confirm the initial capital investment. When the formal signing ceremony takes place, I’ll notify you to come and sign the official documents. If there are many investors, we might not necessarily be selected. Do you want to invest just the initial 2.5 million, or wait until the other piece of jade is sold and invest everything?”

Zhang Rong was also surprised that it had fetched over two million.

Of course, what surprised him even more was that the quality of those two pieces of jadeite exceeded his expectations.

The purple piece was already large to begin with. After removing the outer crust, it was revealed to be a “lavender and green” stone.

On the surface, the texture looked fine and translucent, the color was excellent, and there were few cracks. A large portion seemed to have good clarity, and he estimated they could get two or three jadeite bracelets out of it.

Generally, once a raw stone is found to produce a bracelet, its price skyrockets. After the bracelets are cut, they can still make many pendants and beads; only the remaining parts with flaws or cracks are used for intricate carvings.

In any case, a raw stone would always be utilized to its fullest extent by humans; even the parts with cracks and flaws wouldn’t be wasted.

Parts with flaws could be avoided through clever carving designs. In fact, for gemstones, most complex carving designs were essentially a way to work around cracks and imperfections.

If the carving design was done well, the value would increase significantly. It was truly turning waste into treasure.

Jiang Xia asked, “Can the money be invested in installments?”

Zhang Rong replied, “You can, but you can’t delay for too long.”

Zhou Chenglei asked Jiang Xia, “If the other piece can also sell for over 2.5 million, then we’ll invest a total of five million. If it doesn’t reach that, we’ll just invest whatever it brings in. What do you think?”

Jiang Xia nodded. “That’s fine.”

Jiang Xia was also worried that if they invested too little, they wouldn’t even qualify for a stake.

“Alright! Then fill in five million for now and sign your name!”

Zhang Rong couldn’t say for sure how much the other piece of jadeite would sell for, but it would definitely be more than the purple one. After all, they had already cut an imperial green bracelet from it. A single emerald-green bracelet of that caliber was already a collector’s item.

Jiang Xia said to Zhou Chenglei, “You sign it.”

Zhou Chenglei replied, “You sign.”

Zhang Rong added, “Both of you can sign.”

Zhou Chenglei said, “There’s no need for both. It’s the same regardless of who signs. Xiaxia can do it.”

Zhang Rong was speechless. Since it’s the same regardless of who signs, why are you insisting your wife does it?

Zhou Chenglei flipped to the signature page, picked up a fountain pen, removed the cap, and handed it to Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia didn’t push back further. They were husband and wife; it really was the same regardless of who signed.

Jiang Xia took the pen and wrote her name.

Zhou Chenglei opened the ink pad and held it out to her.

Jiang Xia pressed her index finger onto the ink pad and then left her thumbprint over her name.

Zhou Chenglei closed the ink pad, took Jiang Xia’s hand, and wiped her finger clean with a handkerchief.

This series of actions left Zhang Rong watching in awe. A phrase suddenly popped into his mind: Pampering his wife without limits.

However, he was also deeply impressed that Zhou Chenglei would let his wife sign for such a massive asset all by herself.

When the handkerchief didn’t get her finger completely clean, Jiang Xia said, “I’ll go wash my hands.”

Zhang Rong immediately told her which way the restroom was.

Once Jiang Xia had left, Zhou Chenglei said to Zhang Rong, “Second Brother, once the finished products are ready, let me know. I want to pick out a bracelet for Xiaxia.”

Jiang Xia’s hands were very fair; she would look beautiful wearing a jadeite bracelet.

Zhang Rong replied, “The bracelets have already been cut. You can look at them now.”

Zhang Rong opened the safe and brought out three bracelets.

Zhou Chenglei took one look and picked up the two that were solid green, examining them closely.

Zhang Rong commented, “If those two bracelets you’re holding were taken to an auction in Hong Kong, they would definitely start at a million. The other one is also very good. Why don’t you save that one for your sister-in-law? Even though it’s not solid green, it’s still auction-grade.”

Zhang Rong pointed to one of them.

In truth, all three bracelets were excellent. Although the third one wasn’t solid green, it was of the “glassy” variety. It had a “half-mountain, half-water” feel to it, which was very atmospheric. Someone who appreciated it would love it; it was definitely a collector’s auction piece.

Zhou Chenglei picked the one he thought was the best and put the other solid green one back, not even glancing at the one that wasn’t solid green.

“I want this one.”

Zhang Rong was stunned. “Wait! Big Brother, this one is the absolute best. It could easily fetch several hundred thousand, maybe even a million! It’s a collector’s item! Pick a different one! Since it’s for personal wear, why do you need such a good one? I was even thinking of giving you a hundred-dollar one from my shop for my sister-in-law to wear so she won’t feel heartbroken if it gets knocked or broken during daily use.”

Zhang Rong had assumed Zhou Chenglei would pick the least valuable one for Jiang Xia and that the best one would naturally be auctioned to make money. Instead, he actually wanted to keep the very best one!

“I want this one.”

Zhang Rong was genuinely anxious now. “No, this grade of jade isn’t meant for daily wear. You’re supposed to store it away and only wear it occasionally for important events! Why keep it? Jade can nourish its wearer. I’ll take your sister-in-law to the counter and let her pick out a few-hundred-dollar one—no, a thousand-dollar one—for daily wear. It’ll be my gift to her! Put that one down!”

Zhou Chenglei replied, “There’s no need. This one is fine.”

The best should naturally be left for Jiang Xia.

Zhang Rong was nearly dying of frustration. He gritted his teeth. “This one is good, of course! But it’s not suitable for daily wear. Won’t your heart ache if it accidentally gets chipped?!”

He practically roared that last word.

“My heart won’t ache.”

If jade could nourish the wearer, then surely the better the jade, the better the nourishment.

Jiang Xia deserved nothing but the best.

Zhang Rong was speechless.

Just then, Jiang Xia walked back in. “What are you worried about?”

Zhang Rong hurried to Jiang Xia and said, “Your man wants to keep the best bracelet for you to wear, passing up on all that profit. Quick, talk some sense into him!”

This wasn’t just pampering his wife anymore; this was being blinded by love!

Even though things had improved over the last two years, who in the mainland dared to wear such high-quality jade? If anyone had a treasure like this, they hid it away; they didn’t dare show it off.

Wasn’t it better to store it away or trade it for cash? With money, what couldn’t you do in these times?

“If it’s for daily wear, it’s better to get a cheaper one. Second Brother will give it to you! I have a thousand-dollar jade bracelet in my shop that is also exquisite! Its clarity is excellent! I’ll show it to you! It’s my gift to you!”

He was practically begging them not to waste such a precious treasure!

Zhou Chenglei said, “No need. Just this one!”

Zhang Rong: “…”

Jiang Xia’s eyes lit up when she saw the verdant green bracelet. “Is this what came out of our jadeite stone?”

It didn’t look any different from the multi-million-dollar emerald-green bracelets she had seen online in her previous life!

Zhou Chenglei nodded. He took Jiang Xia’s hand and slid the bracelet onto her wrist.

Jiang Xia’s skin was very white, and the bracelet made it look even fairer.

It was beautiful!

Zhou Chenglei said to Jiang Xia, “We’ll keep this one for you to wear.”

Jiang Xia glanced at the other two bracelets. Even though she didn’t know much about jade, she could tell they were extraordinary!

One look was enough to know they were far from ordinary pieces; they were all collector’s items.

She nodded. “Alright.”

She wouldn’t actually wear it daily—if she accidentally cracked it, she’d cry!

But keeping it would only make it more valuable in the future.

Zhang Rong was at a loss for words.

These two—one really dared to give it, and the other really dared to take it!

Did they not care about making money at all?

Chapter 350: Commendation Ceremony

When Jiang Xia left, she was wearing the emerald-green bracelet on her wrist, while another bracelet worth over a thousand yuan was tucked away in her bag.

Zhang Rong had been adamant about giving Jiang Xia the thousand-yuan one for everyday wear.

Women in this region, once married and having children, liked to wear jade bracelets if they had the means. They believed jade could ward off evil, avoid misfortune, and ensure safety.

There was a saying that jade nourished the wearer, and the wearer nourished the jade. Zhang Rong felt that Jiang Xia wouldn’t wear the emerald-green one very often, and he was also afraid she might accidentally chip or shatter it.

What if one day this couple—who seemed quite reckless with such treasures—realized the emerald bracelet really wasn’t suited for daily wear and, instead of letting it sit around, decided to sell it?

That was why he insisted on giving her the thousand-yuan one for regular use.

That bracelet truly was beautiful, and Jiang Xia had liked it at first sight.

In modern times, a bracelet like this, worth over a thousand yuan back then, wouldn’t go for less than several tens of thousands.

Seeing that Jiang Xia liked it, Zhou Chenglei paid for it.

When Zhang Rong refused the money, Zhou Chenglei said, “I don’t need anyone else to buy my wife’s jewelry.”

Zhang Rong was so annoyed he practically chased him out!

Jiang Xia chuckled inwardly. She hadn’t actually planned on wearing the jade bracelet herself; she intended to give it to Mother Zhou.

Perhaps it was because she wasn’t at that age yet, but Jiang Xia wasn’t particularly fond of wearing jade bracelets.

After leaving the department store, the two headed straight for the city government headquarters.

The open space in front of the city government headquarters building was packed with people.

Zhou Chenglei parked the motorcycle next to the guardhouse.

Because Jiang Xia had come looking for Father Jiang before, the guard recognized her and greeted her warmly.

Zhou Chenglei decided to leave the motorcycle in front of the guardhouse and asked the guard to keep an eye on the items on the bike.

Zhou Chenglei untied the woven sack.

Jiang Xia smiled as she took out two pomelos and three bags of small fried fish, handing them to him. “Uncle, sorry to trouble you. Here, have some of these.”

The old guard tried to decline. “No, no! Keep them for yourselves, there’s no need to be so polite.”

Jiang Xia smiled and said, “I have plenty more. These are just things from home. Please try some—they aren’t expensive, so don’t look down on them.”

The old man replied, “Oh my, I feel embarrassed taking this.”

“It’s fine, just a little something for you to taste.”

Zhou Chenglei sorted out a bag of fruit and placed the fried fish they had brought into the woven sack, tying the opening shut. He said to the old man, “Uncle, when you see my father-in-law, please help me give this bag to him.”

“Alright. You’re not taking it to his office?”

Jiang Xia laughed. “Even if we took it there, wouldn’t my dad just have to carry it back to his car when he finishes work? There’s no need to haul it back and forth.”

“True.” It wasn’t a formal gift; it was a daughter giving her father something to eat, so naturally, they did whatever was most convenient.

“We’re going now.” Jiang Xia smiled, took Zhou Chenglei’s arm, waved, and walked toward the crowd.

A banner was stretched across the plaza in front of the city building, reading “Ten-Thousand-Yuan Household Commendation Ceremony.”

Jiang Xia saw a man in a Zhongshan suit speaking on the stage. Father Zhou and two other middle-aged men were standing below the stage, lining up to head up.

Father Zhou was last in line, which meant these were likely the top three in the city.

Father Zhou was older than the other two, but he appeared to be the tallest and most handsome of the group.

On the other side of the stage, various prizes were displayed. Jiang Xia saw three televisions and several bicycles.

There were also some red envelopes and bags of rice on the tables.

Soon, the host finished speaking, and Father Zhou and the other two went up on stage.

Jiang Xia saw Father Jiang smiling as he stepped forward to shake hands and talk with the three of them.

The two in-laws probably never imagined they would meet and shake hands like this in their lifetime.

Then, someone brought a black and white television before Father Jiang, and Father Jiang, along with the staff member, presented the TV to Father Zhou.

Father Zhou took the television, cradling it in both arms. As he looked down at the crowd, he couldn’t suppress his massive grin.

Next, another staff member brought over another television, and Father Jiang likewise presented it to the second-place ten-thousand-yuan household, finally reaching the first-place winner.

Once all three televisions were handed out, Father Jiang stood beside the first-place winner. Journalists and staff members with cameras began taking photos of them.

Jiang Xia also saw Zhou Chengsen below the stage with a camera, snapping several photos of Father Zhou as the flash bulb popped repeatedly.

After the photos were taken, the three men stepped down.

Then it was the turn of the remaining seven people from the top ten to go up. They were being awarded bicycles.

Another official went up to present those awards.

Jiang Xia nudged Zhou Chenglei. “Come on, let’s find Dad.”

As she spoke, she headed toward Father Zhou.

There were too many people, so Zhou Chenglei let go of her hand and instead wrapped his arm around her shoulder to protect her.

When the two reached Father Zhou, the whole Zhou family was there, every face beaming with smiles.

Tian Caihua touched the television. “This TV looks so new!”

Li Xiuxian was also staring at it. she had seen this model before and wanted to buy it, but it cost over four hundred yuan and required a coupon.

Several children scrambled to ask, “Grandpa, is this our TV? Can we watch TV from now on?”

“Grandpa, you’re so amazing! Did you get first place? Is this the prize for first place?”

“Grandpa, Grandpa, I want to watch TV! Turn it on for me!”

“Grandpa, can I have the big red flower on the TV?”

Father Zhou replied happily, “Yes, we’ll have TV to watch from now on! It wasn’t first place, it was third. There’s no electricity here, so I can’t turn it on yet.”

Mother Zhou smiled and corrected the children, “Don’t touch the screen. Look at your dirty little hands; you’re leaving fingerprints all over it! You won’t be able to see anything later.”

Father Zhou said to his son, “Ah Xin, go get the box. I want to pack the TV up. We can’t let it get damaged!”

“Okay.” Zhou Chengxin agreed and turned to fetch the box.

Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia happened to be bringing the box over. There was no other way; the first and second-place winners had also headed straight to the prize table to pack their TVs after leaving the stage.

Father Zhou had come from a different direction, carrying the TV straight to his family.

Tian Caihua watched as the seven people on stage were presented with bicycles decorated with big red flowers by the staff.

Tian Caihua looked on enviously. “The top ten get bicycles. I wonder which rank gets the rice?”

She really wanted a bicycle too! Her eldest son had started middle school and needed a bike to get to school. The family only had one, and he used it all the time.

Li Xiuxian said, “The top twenty get rice.”

Tian Caihua asked, “I wonder how much money is in those red envelopes? I wonder what rank Uncle Qiang got?”

Li Xiuxian replied, “The top fifty get a ten-yuan red envelope, and the rest get five yuan. Uncle Qiang was 123rd, almost at the very end. There are 136 ten-thousand-yuan households participating in this ceremony today.”

Tian Caihua asked, “How do you know all that so clearly?”

Li Xiuxian couldn’t help but feel a sense of superiority. “It was written on the bulletin board; I saw it. Didn’t you look? The bulletin board is right behind you.”

Tian Caihua: “…”

Li Xiuxian pursed her lips. Just because she’d made a little bit of money, she acted smug in front of her all day!

She barely knew any words and couldn’t even write her own name—what was there to be smug about?

At that moment, Jiang Xia held up her camera and said to Father Zhou, “Dad, Mom, don’t put the TV away yet. Let me take a picture of you holding it, and then we’ll take a group photo of the whole family.”

Hearing the voice, Li Xiuxian shifted her gaze and saw the emerald-green bracelet on Jiang Xia’s wrist as she held up the camera.

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Chapter 351: Buying Furniture

Father Zhou thought Jiang Xia’s suggestion was excellent!

“Come, come, old lady, let’s quickly take a photo together, and then one with the whole family.”

Mother Zhou happily smoothed her clothes and touched the bun at the back of her head as she stood beside Father Zhou. “Is my hair messy?”

Father Zhou glanced at her and smiled. “No, it’s very neat.”

The two elders stood ready, smiling toward the camera.

Jiang Xia took a photo of them and then found a staff member standing nearby to help them take a family photo.

The staff member recognized Jiang Xia and was very happy to help.

While they were posing, Li Xiuxian pointedly pulled her daughter over to stand next to Jiang Xia.

Zhou Zhou was standing in front of Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei.

Li Xiuxian pushed Zhou Ying next to Zhou Zhou. “Yingying, stand with Zhou Zhou!”

The two sisters smiled and held hands.

Jiang Xia originally had both hands on Zhou Zhou’s shoulders. After Zhou Ying came over, she placed one hand on Zhou Zhou’s shoulder and the other on Zhou Ying’s.

The hand resting on Zhou Ying’s shoulder happened to be the one wearing the bracelet.

Li Xiuxian couldn’t help but steal a glance at the bracelet on Jiang Xia’s wrist.

She had always wanted to buy a bracelet, but she had checked the jewelry stores; any that were even slightly decent cost over a hundred yuan. The pretty ones were several hundred, and the truly expensive ones cost thousands!

The ugly ones weren’t worth wearing, and she couldn’t bring herself to spend the money on the beautiful ones, so she had never bought one.

Truthfully, she didn’t know much about jade. In the past, she never had the chance to learn, and no one wore it.

But the times had changed over the last two years.

One of her colleagues came from a very wealthy family and had once worn an heirloom jade bracelet to class.

The colleague had called it “emerald-green” or “Imperial Green” and said it would have been worth a fortune in ancient times!

It had caused quite a stir, and everyone in the office had crowded around to see it.

She was no exception.

The green of Jiang Xia’s bracelet was very similar to her colleague’s, and she actually thought Jiang Xia’s was even more beautiful!

Just as Li Xiuxian was about to ask something, the staff member smiled. “Look at the lens! One, two, three—done!”

Li Xiuxian quickly looked at the camera.

After the photo was taken, Li Xiuxian wanted to follow up, but Father Jiang walked over. Jiang Xia happily pulled him in, had Zhou Chenglei hold the television, and the three of them took a photo together as well.

Father Jiang had just seen his daughter and her in-laws and came over to say hello. He chatted for a bit, reminded Jiang Xia to be careful, and then left.

He was on duty and had many things to attend to today.

Once Father Jiang left, Zhou Chenglei and Father Zhou put the television back into its box. Father Zhou kept reminding him to be careful.

Jiang Xia watched from the side.

Li Xiuxian finally found a chance to speak to her. “Xiao Xia, did you buy a bracelet?”

Hearing this, Tian Caihua looked over; she hadn’t even noticed!

Tian Caihua grabbed Jiang Xia’s hand. “This bracelet is so green! It’s practically glowing! How much did it cost?”

Tian Caihua didn’t understand jade, but she had heard people say that the more green there was, the better the jade!

Li Xiuxian also wanted to know the price.

Both of them stared at Jiang Xia.

There were too many people around, and Jiang Xia didn’t want to say much, so she simply said, “It wasn’t bought.”

Li Xiuxian was about to ask more, but Zhou Chenglei finished packing the TV and interrupted her. “It’s getting late. Big Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, let’s go look at sofas. After that, we still need to go to the shipyard.”

“Big Brother, Second Brother, are you taking a taxi or the bus?”

Zhou Chengxin replied, “We’ll take the bus. There’s a stop right at the entrance.”

He had several sons with him; they wouldn’t all fit into one taxi.

And so, the group said goodbye to Father and Mother Zhou and left.

Father and Mother Zhou stayed behind to wait for everyone to finish claiming their prizes. There would be a meal later, though only one person per household was allowed at the table.

However, Father Jiang had come by earlier to ask if they were staying in the city for lunch. He was prepared to pay for two tables for them himself.

When he learned they were going to buy sofas and only Father and Mother Zhou were staying for the meal, adding one extra seat for Mother Zhou was no problem at all.

Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia took the motorcycle ahead of the others.

They didn’t go to the factory but went to a furniture mall instead.

The furniture factory was in the neighboring city; if they saw a style they liked at the mall, they could just call the factory manager.

This particular shop in the furniture mall was direct-sale from the manufacturer.

Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei arrived first with Zhou Zhou.

Jiang Xia pointed out the three sets of sofas she had liked at the Canton Fair to Zhou Chenglei and Zhou Zhou. “What do you think? Do you like them, Zhou Zhou?”

Zhou Zhou had never seen such beautiful sofas. They were soft and comfortable to sit on. She nodded her small head. “I like them!”

Zhou Chenglei was fine with whatever Jiang Xia liked. “You decide. Everything you pick is beautiful.”

Jiang Xia asked again, “Which set is Zhou Zhou’s favorite?”

Zhou Zhou was currently sitting on a green leather sofa, bouncing her bottom up and down happily. “I like this one!”

Jiang Xia decided, “Then we’ll put the dark brown one on the first floor, the green one on the second floor, and the reddish-brown one on the third floor.”

The dark brown set was the largest, and the living room on the first floor was also the largest.

Zhou Chenglei nodded. “That works.”

Jiang Xia had originally wanted to buy a black set for the first floor, but thinking that the elders would probably prefer more festive colors, she chose two sets in reddish-brown tones.

After the sofas were chosen, Jiang Xia said, “Zhou Zhou, go pick a bed you like.”

the sales clerk said very warmly, “The children’s beds are over here. This way, please.”

The clerk had never seen anyone buy three sets of sofas at once; how could they not be enthusiastic?

Twenty minutes later, Zhou Chengxin and the others arrived. Jiang Xia was currently helping Zhou Zhou pick out a bed.

Most of the beds were solid wood or iron frames.

The solid wood beds had more styles.

There were also iron frame beds with leather-wrapped headboards, as well as imported European-style classical carved beds.

Zhou Chenglei took a fancy to a European-style classical carved bed. It was very grand and looked very sturdy.

“We’ll take this one for our room.”

Jiang Xia reminded him, “The bed we’re sleeping on now is still new.”

That carved solid wood bed was indeed quite beautiful.

Zhou Chenglei gave Jiang Xia a look. “We aren’t moving it. It’s too much trouble to take apart.”

Meeting his gaze, Jiang Xia remembered that he had driven in so many nails. To move it, he would have to pry each nail out one by one to disassemble the bed, then nail them all back in afterward—otherwise, the bed would squeak.

More importantly, prying out the nails would likely ruin the bed entirely!

She immediately said, “Then let’s get this one!”

She didn’t dare buy a fully solid wood DIY frame again. She was truly intimidated by Zhou Chenglei’s handiwork!

Zhou Chenglei said to the clerk, “This bed, and the whole matching set.”

He pointed to the matching wardrobe, dressing table, and other pieces.

“Certainly!” the clerk said, feeling excited.

The full set included two bedside tables, a chaise longue, a matching wardrobe, a chest of drawers, and a dressing table.

A whole set like that was quite expensive!

Zhou Zhou liked many of the beds.

The bed she currently slept on was just two wooden planks pushed together; it didn’t even have a headboard.

For a moment, she didn’t know which one to choose.

Just then, the rest of the family arrived. Zhou Ying ran to Zhou Zhou’s side, and Zhou Zhou immediately asked, “Sister, which bed do you think is pretty?”

Zhou Ying had never seen such beautiful beds either. She immediately looked through them with Zhou Zhou and picked out a white solid wood princess bed.

Zhou Zhou also liked the white bed. “Auntie, I like this one.”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Alright, we’ll buy that one then.”

She told the clerk, “I’ll take the matching wardrobe, bedside table, and desk for this bed too. Also, do you have any good Simmons mattresses suitable for children?”

Li Xiuxian glanced at Jiang Xia.

The bed Yingying slept on was also just two wooden planks pushed together, exactly like the one Zhou Zhou used to sleep on at the old house!

Chapter 352: Can We Make a Swap?

“You even know about Simmons mattresses!” In this era, spring mattresses weren’t well known by the general public. Some customers would even come in and ask if it was a quilt, wondering why it was so thick.

The salesperson became even more enthusiastic. She didn’t even stop the three children, including Yaozu, from jumping up and down on the sofa.

She said with a smile, “We have them, we have them! Soft beds aren’t suitable for children, but we have a firmer Simmons model. It’s a new arrival, just imported, and it’s perfect for kids. Our boss even gave this one to her own daughter. Let me show you.”

Since the boys were being rowdy, Tian Caihua scolded them, and Zhou Chengxin reminded them to behave. However, they didn’t take it to heart; they would stop for a moment before falling back into their old ways.

When Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei saw this, they both spoke up to tell the children to stop jumping around.

Only then did the brothers quiet down.

The words of their Uncle and Auntie were more effective than those of their own parents.

Jiang Xia took Zhou Zhou’s hand and followed the salesperson.

Li Xiuxian had heard of Simmons before. She had learned about them from that colleague who owned the heirloom emerald-green bracelet.

She led Zhou Ying over as well.

The salesperson smiled and pointed at a mattress. “This Simmons is the firmest one in the store, making it ideal for children. Our boss’s daughter sleeps on this exact model. You can try it out. Even though it’s firm, it’s very comfortable.”

Jiang Xia said, “Zhou Zhou, lie down and see if it’s comfortable.”

Jiang Xia pressed down on it with her hand and then lay down herself to test it.

It felt quite nice—not soft, with a bit of firmness. It was truly comfortable.

In her previous life, Jiang Xia had been used to sleeping on mattresses. After transmigrating, she had been sleeping on hard wooden beds, and sometimes she would wake up feeling like her back was stiff.

This had been especially noticeable lately since she had been sleeping more than usual.

Jiang Xia asked Zhou Zhou, “Is it comfortable?”

“It’s comfortable! It’s even better than sleeping on straw!” Zhou Zhou lay on the bed and rolled over. She felt it was wonderful; she had never slept on such a comfortable bed before.

Previously, Zhou Zhou had slept with Father and Mother Zhou. In the winter, if Zhou Zhou wet the bed and the bedding got soaked with no spares available, Father and Mother Zhou would place a layer of straw on the bedboards and cover it with a sheet to use as a mattress.

Many poor families did exactly this.

Zhou Zhou remembered that sleeping on a pile of straw was also quite comfortable. Children in winter loved playing in the straw piles, too.

Jiang Xia smiled. She turned to find Zhou Chenglei and asked him to try it out.

Zhou Ying took off her shoes and lay down to try it as well. The two children rolled around on the bed together.

Zhou Ying cheered, “Mom, this bed is so comfy! I want to change my bed too!”

Li Xiuxian said crossly, “I don’t have the money for that!”

She shot a glance at Jiang Xia.

She almost wanted to leave her daughter in the village to live with her grandparents, just like Zhou Zhou.

Jiang Xia was currently calling out to Zhou Chenglei, “Chenglei, come and try this mattress.”

Zhou Chenglei was seriously picking out the Simmons mattress for himself and Jiang Xia, pressing down on two different models.

Hearing Jiang Xia call him, he walked over.

Jiang Xia asked, “What do you think of this mattress? If you think it’s comfortable, we’ll buy this model for all three beds at home.”

Zhou Chenglei pressed it with his hand. “This one is fine for Mom and Dad’s bed, but let’s get a softer one for us. This one is too hard.”

It wasn’t suitable for her.

Jiang Xia had delicate skin and was quite thin. Her shoulder blades were beautiful, but because she lacked body fat, sleeping on her side for too long would leave red marks on her skin where the bedboards pressed against her.

It was fine in the short term, but over time, those red marks could turn into calluses.

Zhou Chenglei had noticed this a few times, so he intended to pick a softer mattress when they replaced the beds.

Jiang Xia argued, “Sleeping on a soft bed for too long can easily cause back pain. It’s not good for the lumbar spine.”

Zhou Chenglei shook his head. “We’re getting a softer one. This one is too hard.”

Too soft wouldn’t do, but too hard was even worse.

Currently, they were sleeping on hard wooden boards. Sometimes, if he was a bit too forceful, her head would hit the headboard, and she would always complain that the boards were too hard and made her back ache.

Therefore, for this upgrade, he planned to get a softer mattress and a padded headboard.

The salesperson immediately chimed in, “We have one with medium firmness. That model is very comfortable and is a bestseller abroad; it’s our most popular item. It’s the one on the bed frame you liked earlier. it sells very well overseas!”

The couple walked over to try it. Jiang Xia lay down and found it comfortable. She asked Zhou Chenglei, “This one then?”

“Okay.” Zhou Chenglei felt it carefully. It was indeed medium-firm.

Once the furniture for Zhou Zhou’s room and their own master bedroom was selected, Jiang Xia picked out a bed for Father and Mother Zhou. It was also European-style, but the colors were more mature and heavy.

She also ordered the matching wardrobe, dressing table, chest of drawers, and bedside tables.

Next were the bookshelves and desk for the study.

Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei chose a very large desk, big enough for two people to sit at.

For every book Jiang Xia translated, she would be given a sample copy once it was printed and published.

Since Jiang Xia planned to continue translating in the future, they bought large bookshelves—enough to cover an entire wall.

Zhou Chenglei also had quite a few books that were currently stored in the attic. Many were gifts or issued by his work unit, and those could eventually be moved to the new bookshelves.

The books in her room at the Jiang family home were all high quality. Once Zhou Zhou was in third grade and knew more characters, Jiang Xia planned to bring them back one by one for Zhou Zhou to read.

Children these days weren’t under intense academic pressure, and Jiang Xia didn’t plan to force her. However, she still wanted to try and cultivate her interest in reading.

Right, there were also extracurricular classes. She needed to see if there was anything Zhou Zhou wanted to learn. If she did, they would have to find a teacher for her.

After the bookshelves were chosen, Zhou Chenglei pulled Jiang Xia over to a sofa and had her sit down. “Sit for a while. There’s no rush for the remaining rooms; we can pick those out slowly later.”

Jiang Xia sat down and said to him, “Then go pick out solid wood beds for the two guest rooms. We won’t buy furniture for the other rooms for now.”

They would wait until the baby was born to see if it was a boy or a girl before buying more. The styles for boys’ and girls’ beds were definitely different.

“Mhm.”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t plan to equip the guest rooms with mattresses or buy overly expensive beds. He would just buy two cheaper solid wood beds for the guest rooms so that Second Brother and his wife and daughter would have a place to sleep when they came back to visit.

They wouldn’t be sleeping there every day, so there was no need for anything too fancy.

As for the other rooms, they would only be used by other relatives for a night or two during the housewarming. He could just push a couple of bedboards together then, or buy some solid wood beds from the wood processing factory in town.

Zhou Chenglei went to pick out the two cheapest solid wood beds and only matched them with a desk, one bedside table, and a wardrobe.

Seeing that even the guest room beds Zhou Chenglei picked were so nice, Tian Caihua couldn’t help but say, “Why do guest rooms need such nice beds? Just push two bedboards together and be done with it!”

Buying such nice beds—wasn’t that just benefiting Li Xiuxian?

The thought made Tian Caihua a bit salty!

Li Xiuxian also knew that the beds Zhou Chenglei was putting in the guest rooms were mostly for her and her husband.

Although he had picked the cheapest ones, because they were from this specific shop, even the cheapest items were much better looking—and much more expensive—than the beds made by the wood processing factories in town.

She couldn’t help but think: Can we make a swap?

What if they transported the two beds, wardrobes, and desks they currently used in town back to the village to put in the guest rooms for when they visited?

And then, could these new beds and cabinets be transported to their house in town?

Chapter 353: It’s Good to Have Money!

Li Xiuxian thought this to herself, but she was too embarrassed to say it out loud.

Her daughter wasn’t as clever as Zhou Zhou, who knew how to get Jiang Xia to buy her all sorts of nice things!

Just look—when Jiang Xia let Zhou Zhou pick out a bed, the girl didn’t hold back at all. She went straight for a bed that looked incredibly expensive at a glance!

Zhou Ying, on the other hand, could only whine to her: “Mom, I want a bed like that, too.”

Li Xiuxian glanced at Zhou Chengsen again. He and Zhou Chengxin were walking outside with their cigarettes.

As soon as they stepped out, Zhou Chengsen struck a match and lit his Big Brother’s cigarette.

Li Xiuxian nearly had a heart attack from frustration!

Her husband had no ambition and didn’t care about living a better life; he couldn’t earn much money, and her daughter was just as useless.

Tian Caihua looked at every leather sofa set. She thought they all looked beautiful and wanted them all!

But the prices were too steep. The cheapest set was a floor model on clearance—a style from several years ago—and even that cost over a thousand yuan. She couldn’t bring herself to spend it.

Excitedly, she asked Li Xiuxian, “Which sofa did you set your sights on?”

Li Xiuxian wanted to buy a boat and had no money to spare. She glanced at the deep green sofa set but said, “None of them.”

Of course she liked some, but she had to buy a boat; there was no money left for a sofa.

Tian Caihua remarked, “True. You’re trying to buy a boat, so why would you even look at a sofa?”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Once again, she had inadvertently been pricked by Tian Caihua’s sarcasm!

Tian Caihua ran excitedly to Jiang Xia’s side and asked, “Xiao Xia, which sofa set do you like?”

Jiang Xia was eating one of the sweet potato pancakes Tian Caihua had fried. Upon hearing the question, she pointed to the three sets she had picked out in order.

Tian Caihua nodded. “I think those three look the best, too! But they’re so expensive! Which one are you planning to buy?”

Jiang Xia replied, “I’m buying all three.”

Both Tian Caihua and Li Xiuxian couldn’t help but stare at her.

All… three… sets?

The two of them instinctively looked back at the three sofa sets, comparing them to see which one was the most beautiful.

Tian Caihua walked directly over to them.

Li Xiuxian followed closely behind.

Having made his choices, Zhou Chenglei walked back to Jiang Xia’s side. “I’ve picked out the beds. I also chose a dining table; come see if you like it.”

Jiang Xia stood up.

Zhou Chenglei reached out to steady her, then naturally took her hand as they walked over.

The dining table Zhou Chenglei had chosen was actually part of the set for the sofa downstairs. Jiang Xia said, “Alright, let’s go with this dining table set!”

Jiang Xia then asked the salesclerk, “Do you have matching TV cabinets and wine cabinets?”

Hearing this, Tian Caihua and Li Xiuxian also came over.

The salesclerk smiled. “Yes, they’re right here. All three sofa sets have matching TV cabinets and wine cabinets. Do you need the full sets for all three?”

Jiang Xia replied, “No, for the other two, just a coffee table and a TV cabinet will be enough.”

Jiang Xia had originally planned to only buy the sofas and coffee tables, but then she thought about how they would likely install televisions on both the second and third floors eventually.

Furniture quality during this era was exceptionally good and very practical; using it for twenty or thirty years wouldn’t be a problem.

She decided she might as well buy the TV cabinets now.

Tian Caihua laughed. “Yes, a coffee table and a TV cabinet are enough. You don’t necessarily need a dining table for every floor.”

Li Xiuxian asked the clerk, “How much is the matching dining table for that green sofa set?”

The dining table at her house was just a simple eight immortals table; it was far too ugly.

If she didn’t have to pay for the sofa herself, she really wanted to buy the dining table.

Wouldn’t a complete set like that look prestigious?

How much face would she have when she invited her colleagues over for dinner in the future?

The clerk replied, “The dining table matching that green sofa set is 2,600 yuan.”

Li Xiuxian gasped. “…That expensive?”

The salesperson explained, “Yes, because it’s made of imported rosewood and imported cowhide, it’s more expensive. Besides, our furniture is meant for export, so the quality is top-notch.”

Li Xiuxian then remembered that Jiang Xia could get the factory-gate price.

The factory price should be much cheaper, right?

She wondered if she could get it for five or six hundred.

“I’ll think about it.”

After checking the TV cabinets and wine cabinets, Jiang Xia confirmed the purchase.

Once everything was decided, Jiang Xia asked Tian Caihua and Li Xiuxian, “Big Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, weren’t you planning to buy sofas? Have you picked them out yet? Second Sister-in-law, besides the sofa, did you want to buy a dining table as well? I’m about to call the boss. Tell the clerk once you’ve made your choices!”

Tian Caihua: “…”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

So, Jiang Xia was buying three sofa sets for herself, not giving them one?

Tian Caihua blurted out, “Why do you need three sofa sets? Weren’t you… picking one out for us too?”

She almost asked “Aren’t you giving us one?” directly!

Fortunately, she caught herself!

Jiang Xia glanced at them. “My house has three floors! One set for each floor is just right. Do you need me to help you choose? Or do you like the three I picked? Which one do you want? I’ll report it to the boss. Buying this much should get us an even better discount.”

Li Xiuxian’s excitement vanished. She said flatly, “No need. You know I’m saving for a boat. I don’t have money for a sofa, and I won’t be buying the dining table either.”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Alright then. You can buy them once you’ve earned more money. There might be even more styles available by then.”

Li Xiuxian twitched the corners of her mouth in a half-hearted response.

Tian Caihua still wanted to buy one, but the three Jiang Xia had chosen were too expensive, and she couldn’t bear the cost. She had only recently saved up enough for the boat. She asked, “I want the cheapest set. Can you ask how much it is? That one is an old model that’s been sitting there for two or three years; see if they can make it cheaper.”

Jiang Xia clarified which set she meant, asked the clerk for the name of the sofa Tian Caihua wanted, and then called the boss.

The boss still remembered Jiang Xia and his promise. He readily gave Jiang Xia the factory-gate price, which was essentially a fifty-percent discount.

Jiang Xia added, “If we take the floor models instead of new stock, could you make it even cheaper?”

In this era, the hazards of formaldehyde weren’t widely recognized yet, but it was a very real concern.

They were about to move into a newly built house, and with her unborn child still developing, Jiang Xia didn’t dare use brand-new furniture straight from the factory.

It was better to take the floor models that had been sitting out for a while to let some of the odors dissipate.

Of those sofa sets, two had been on display for over six months and one for half a year. Hardly anyone had sat on them. The beds had only been out for three or four months. They were practically no different from new.

The boss hadn’t originally intended to discount them further, as they hadn’t been on display for that long. However, thinking of Jiang Xia’s foreign language skills, he decided to drop the price again.

After the wrap-up meeting of the Canton Fair, the boss had learned about the great achievements of the couple and heard that they were quite close to Old He.

“Alright, I’ll give them to you at cost. I won’t make a single cent of profit; we’ll call it a gesture of friendship. But Xiao Xia, don’t forget to be a translator for our factory at next year’s Canton Fair.”

Jiang Xia thanked him sincerely, “Thank you, Boss Zheng. If I attend the Canton Fair next year, I will definitely work as a part-time translator for your factory.”

The boss had Jiang Xia hand the phone to the clerk. He quoted a price to the clerk and instructed her to arrange a truck for home delivery before hanging up.

The price was lower than ever before. Even when the boss’s own relatives or friends came to buy, the clerk had never seen such a low price.

And they even got free delivery!

The salesclerk was the cousin of the boss’s wife. If she hadn’t seen that Jiang Xia already had a husband, she would have suspected Jiang Xia was the boss’s mistress.

Since she couldn’t be a mistress, her identity had to be extraordinary.

Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei had an air of elegance about them, and the whole family was well-dressed.

With an even more respectful attitude, the clerk informed Jiang Xia of the total price and asked for her delivery address and phone number.

The total for all the furniture came to 25,600 yuan. Tian Caihua’s sofa set was 900 yuan.

Jiang Xia asked Zhou Chenglei for her bag and paid the full amount directly in cash.

The boss had already given her a discount of more than half; it would be poor form to only offer a deposit.

If anyone else were buying, the deposit alone would have been this much.

Li Xiuxian watched as Jiang Xia pulled out stack after stack of Great Unity banknotes and handed them over without even blinking.

It really was good to have money!

Chapter 354: The Ideal Life

After Jiang Xia finished paying and arranged the delivery time, the group left the furniture mall to find a nearby restaurant for lunch.

Li Xiuxian walked at the back of the pack, looking listless and gloomy.

Zhou Chengsen asked her, “Did you buy anything?”

Li Xiuxian replied crossly, “Don’t you know how much money we have in our pockets? What could I possibly buy? Based on our salaries, we wouldn’t be able to afford a single item in there even if we saved for a whole year! I told you we should buy a boat, but you wouldn’t agree! Just look at your fourth brother—he makes money every time he goes out to sea. He can buy whatever he wants! Did you see Jiang Xia? She doesn’t even look at the price tags!”

Li Xiuxian had just watched Jiang Xia go on a shopping spree, buying whatever she wanted without a second thought, paying for it all without so much as a blink. Meanwhile, she was still pinching pennies every time she went out to buy groceries.

Watching Jiang Xia shop made her feel both frustrated and envious.

The life Jiang Xia was living was the very life Li Xiuxian dreamed of.

In the past, she thought such a life only existed in dreams—an ideal existence that couldn’t possibly exist in reality. After all, how could one person have everything go their way?

A husband who pampered her, doting in-laws, a supportive family of her own, and plenty of money!

But here it was, manifesting in reality, and it belonged to her sister-in-law!

A woman who held the same status as her, whose profession wasn’t as stable as hers, and who still had to respectfully call her “Second Sister-in-law” at home, was living the life she yearned for.

As both being daughters-in-law of the Zhou family, the massive gap in their standard of living caused a huge sense of disparity in her heart, and it frightened her.

Because she and her husband had stable jobs, their path in life was predictable and easy to see to the end. It was steady and secure, with no worries about food or clothing, but it was far from wealthy.

However, the families of the first and fourth brothers had infinite possibilities!

Especially Jiang Xia—she was already living that dream life.

Back at the beginning, when Li Xiuxian first married into the Zhou family, she had married the son with the most potential and ambition!

Zhou Chengsen was one of the few university students in the entire town.

Why was their life not even as good as the first brother’s?

Zhou Chengsen glanced at his wife, seeing through her thoughts in an instant. “If you love fishing that much, why didn’t you marry a fisherman in the first place?”

He had already agreed to let her order a boat, yet she still wouldn’t stop complaining!

Li Xiuxian was speechless. “…”

Zhou Chengsen threw those words out and quickened his pace to catch up, watching his daughter and nephew cross the street.

Zhou Chenglei led the way on his motorcycle, taking Jiang Xia to a newly opened restaurant nearby.

Lately, more restaurants had been opening up in the city. More and more people were starting small businesses. The economy was clearly picking up.

Since they had a large group, Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia requested a private room.

The two of them put their heads together to look at the menu.

Zhou Chenglei knew that Jiang Xia didn’t like eating seafood when they went out. The truth was that restaurant seafood was never as fresh as what they had at home, so he avoided ordering it.

This place had a fairly diverse menu. After a brief discussion, the two of them ordered braised beef, “big plate” chicken, duck in spicy bean sauce, Mao Xue Wang, roasted pigeon, and Mapo Tofu.

They left the remaining choices to the children.

The children sat together, chirping excitedly as they fought over which dishes to order.

Aside from when their parents had taken them out as children, the three brothers had never eaten out as one big family since they got married.

Zhou Chengsen enjoyed the atmosphere and smiled. “Let’s not cook at home on the Winter Solstice. A new restaurant opened up in town; let’s bring the whole family there to eat.”

He didn’t care what the women thought; he only wanted the brothers to remain united and for the next generation to be close as well.

The bond between brothers needed to be maintained, and the children needed to spend time together to develop an affection for one another. The strength of the cousins’ future relationship depended on how the fathers got along now.

There were only the three brothers left in their family. Their sister had married far away and rarely returned, and their cousins on their mother’s side also lived far off and were seldom in contact. The three brothers naturally had to stick together.

Li Xiuxian glanced at him but said nothing.

Zhou Chengxin saw how happy the kids were and also thought these family meals were a great idea. He smiled and said, “Let’s come out again on New Year’s Day to let the kids have some more fun.”

Usually, whoever suggested the outing was the one who paid.

Tian Caihua cared about fairness, so she had no objections after hearing this. The fourth and second brothers’ families had both hosted meals; it was only natural for them to take a turn.

Zhou Chenglei used tea instead of wine to toast his brothers and sisters-in-law. “Let’s get together like this more often.”

After lunch, the family headed to the shipyard.

When Director Zhou saw Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia arriving with such a large group, he joked, “What special occasion is it today? Are you here to order a boat for every single person?”

Zhou Chenglei handed over a bag of fruit and some of their three-flavor fried fish.

It wasn’t the first time he had received their dried fish. Director Zhou accepted them with a laugh. “Oh no, don’t tell me you’re trying to order two more big ships for a thousand yuan again?”

Jiang Xia laughed. “That’s right, you’re going to have to take a big loss today! I specifically brought the kids to collect their boat models. Does Director Zhou have any?”

Director Zhou chuckled. “I do, I definitely do! One for each of them!”

When Director Zhou designed ships, he liked to create a physical model first. He truly did have quite a few boat models in his office.

So, Director Zhou invited the children in and gave each of them a model boat.

Li Xiuxian noticed that Zhou Zhou’s model was the newest and most complex. It was likely because Jiang Xia had been holding Zhou Zhou’s hand since they walked in.

Jiang Xia hadn’t expected him to actually have them. She smiled and said, “I was only joking, but it looks like we’ve gotten a great deal. Hurry up and thank Grandpa Zhou.”

The children shouted happily, “Thank you, Grandpa Zhou!”

Director Zhou smiled and told them they were good kids, then turned to the adults. “I called to notify you this morning and heard your whole family was coming to the city for the Ten-Thousand-Yuan Household Commendation Ceremony. I figured you might stop by the shipyard. I have news about those secondhand boats you wanted to buy. And the new boat your big brother ordered is almost finished. We’ll do a trial run on New Year’s Day. If everything is fine, you can take delivery then.”

Li Xiuxian looked at Jiang Xia in surprise. “You’re buying more boats?”

Jiang Xia nodded. “We’re planning to buy two small fishing boats to use for feeding the fish in our offshore farm. That way, we won’t have to take the main fishing boat away from his catching duties.”

Li Xiuxian thought to herself that even a small boat must cost several thousand yuan, right?

Tian Caihua was especially thrilled. “Director Zhou, our family’s new boat is ready so soon?”

Director Zhou nodded. “We opened up a separate production line, so it went a bit faster. Plus, a group of apprentices finished their training and became full staff, and we took on a new batch of trainees. With more hands, things moved quickly.”

“Director Zhou, we are Chenglei’s second brother and second sister-in-law. We would also like to order a boat.” Li Xiuxian nudged Zhou Chengsen, signaling for him to speak.

He was the one who understood boat matters!

Zhou Chengsen didn’t really want to order one. He had nearly been swept away by a wave when he was a child, and he had no love for the open sea. His grandmother had once had his fortune read, and the teller said he “clashed with vehicles and feared water.” He also felt that he feared the water. Although he was a decent swimmer and diver—no worse than his brothers—he felt an internal resistance to making a living from fishing.

But there was nothing he could do. Li Xiuxian seemed possessed by the idea. Zhou Chengsen knew she was dead set on buying a boat this time, and he couldn’t talk her out of it. He could only let her have her way.

When the time came and she couldn’t manage it, he would just give the boat to his older or younger brother—then he’d see if she ever dared to stir up trouble again!

Zhou Chengsen began to talk with Director Zhou.

Director Zhou listened to his requirements, which were quite minimal—likely because they didn’t have enough money. He said, “Hold on a moment. As it happens, I haven’t finished what I was saying yet.”

Chapter 355: Two Old Ships

Factory Director Zhou looked at Chenglei. “Didn’t you ask me before to keep an eye out for anyone selling an old boat to buy a new one? It just so happens that someone came in yesterday to order a new ship and plans to sell two old fishing boats to fund it.”

Factory Director Zhou then looked toward Second Brother. “Those two boats are a bit old, but they’re the same size as the one your Big Brother ordered. They’ve been in service for quite a while—ten years now—but they’ve been well-maintained. They can definitely run for another five or six years. If you keep up with the maintenance, I think they could easily last another eight or ten years with a few patches here and there. The owner is asking for three thousand yuan, but if you counter-offer at twenty-eight hundred or twenty-five hundred, it should be close enough. Do you want them?”

Li Xiuxian frowned immediately upon hearing this. Ten years old? That made them even more dilapidated than the boat they already had at home.

Besides, the boat they had at home had cost around three thousand when they bought it. Now a ten-year-old boat was being sold for three thousand?

How could a ship from ten years ago be worth that much?

What’s more, what if it needed constant repairs after they bought it?

“Has there ever been an accident on them?” she asked, being quite superstitious about such things.

Factory Director Zhou replied, “Absolutely not. I can guarantee that.”

Li Xiuxian then said, “Can we see the boats first?”

Factory Director Zhou nodded. “Of course. It’s a major purchase, not a bunch of vegetables; naturally, you have to see it. When are you free? I’ll arrange for him to sail them over for you to take a look.”

Chenglei said, “Factory Director Zhou, please call and ask him if he can sail them to the shipyard now, or if he can bring them to our village’s pier at five o’clock this afternoon. If not, tomorrow morning at our village will work. I’ll buy both.”

Chenglei turned to look at Second Brother. “Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, if you like one when the time comes, I’ll transfer it to you. If you don’t think it’s suitable, I’ll keep both for myself, and you can order a new ship instead. How does that sound?”

Chenglei was the one who had asked Factory Director Zhou to look out for this in the first place. Factory Director Zhou was a man of his word; if he said the boats were well-maintained, they certainly were.

As for accidents or bad luck, Chenglei wasn’t afraid and didn’t believe in such things. He had crawled out of piles of corpses and killed many enemies.

It wasn’t just that he wasn’t superstitious; even if he were, he believed that with a righteous spirit, one was immune to all evils!

Factory Director Zhou enjoyed dealing with people like Chenglei—straightforward! He smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll call him now. The owner just came by this morning, so he shouldn’t have gone out to sea today.”

Second Brother hadn’t really wanted to buy a new ship anyway. If he could save some money, buying an old boat for Li Xiuxian to fuss over was fine. He said, “Fine! Let’s do that then!”

Li Xiuxian tugged at Second Brother’s sleeve; she still wanted to order a new ship.

She didn’t like using second-hand things.

Second Brother looked at Li Xiuxian. “We’ll buy a second-hand one first so we can go out to sea and start making money immediately. Ordering a new ship takes a year or two. Let’s see how our luck at sea is first. If the luck at sea is good and we earn enough, you can order a new one then. The previous owner is selling these two boats specifically to buy a bigger one, which proves these boats have good luck!”

“Think about it, wasn’t our family’s first boat also second-hand? Now A-Lei and my brother both have new ships! How long has it been? If we can make money as soon as possible, of course we should prioritize that!”

It had to be said that Second Brother understood Li Xiuxian and knew exactly how to persuade her.

Hearing this, Li Xiuxian was swayed.

Tian Caihua finally finished calculating her accounts—she had enough money! She immediately cut in, “Second Brother, if you don’t want it, my family does!”

She had been busy calculating how much money they had left and whether they could afford three thousand for an old boat, which was why she hadn’t spoken up until now.

With Tian Caihua’s interruption, Li Xiuxian made up her mind instantly. She couldn’t let the first branch have it. If Tian Caihua bought it, wouldn’t her family have three boats?

Li Xiuxian said immediately, “A-Lei, we want it!!”

Second Brother was right; ordering a new ship meant waiting a year or two to make money. With an old boat, they could start earning right away.

Once she made money, she would buy a new ship, a big ship!

Tian Caihua pursed her lips. She knew the woman would compete with her!

This was why she found Li Xiuxian so annoying!

Chenglei nodded. “Alright.”

Factory Director Zhou was on the phone. The owner wasn’t at sea today, and upon hearing someone wanted to buy, he said he would sail the boats to the shipyard immediately.

Factory Director Zhou hung up and said, “He should be here in about an hour.”

Chenglei and Second Brother both agreed.

Chenglei spoke to Factory Director Zhou again. “If anyone else is selling fishing boats, please let me know.”

Factory Director Zhou asked, “Big boats or small boats?”

“Both.”

Now that Jiang Xia was pregnant, Chenglei didn’t plan on personally going to the distant seas for a while. Being away from home for too long made him uneasy.

In that case, he would buy several small boats for inshore fishing. Since he had to manage one boat going out anyway, managing several wasn’t much different.

Factory Director Zhou laughed when he heard this. “Working that hard? It really is different once you become a father.”

Chenglei replied with a calm, expressionless face, “I have to. The doctor said it might be triplets. If I don’t work hard to make money, I’m afraid I won’t be able to afford the powdered milk.”

Jiang Xia: “…”

This man!

Factory Director Zhou froze for a moment, then looked at Jiang Xia in disbelief. “Three?”

Jiang Xia said, “It’s just a possibility, not confirmed yet.”

Factory Director Zhou burst out laughing. “Haha… Looks like Old Feng and I don’t have to fight anymore! Each of us can claim one as a grandson! No, wait, I’ll take two and leave one for him, haha…”

After the Canton Fair ended, Factory Director Zhou and Factory Director Feng happened to sit together on the return journey. The two of them had nearly come to blows in the vehicle over who would get to be the godfather to Jiang Xia’s unborn children.

Factory Director Zhou handed a half-filled woven sack of items to Chenglei. “For Xiao Xia to eat. Some local mountain products from my hometown. My parents picked them in the Great Khingan Mountains and just mailed them over. I heard eating those pine nuts makes children smart. Just look at how smart I am and you’ll know. Xiao Xia, eat more so my grandsons will be bright and clever in the future.”

Chenglei took it and offered his thanks.

Jiang Xia joked, “Then I’ll eat plenty. If their godfather became a shipbuilding expert from eating pine nuts, then your god-grandchildren might grow up to be experts in building aircraft carriers and rockets!”

Factory Director Zhou laughed heartily. “Haha… Definitely! They’ll surely be even more capable than me! The student shall surpass the master!”

Li Xiuxian glanced at Jiang Xia’s stomach. They weren’t even born yet, and already a factory director was scrambling to be their godfather.

Why was Jiang Xia so well-liked? It was the same with the furniture factory owner; things got so much cheaper just from one phone call from Jiang Xia.

And she didn’t even know who that “Old Feng” person was.

Was it because Jiang Xia knew a foreign language?

This showed that it really was important for Zhou Ying to learn English well from a young age.

Look how sought-after she would be.

Factory Director Zhou then mentioned the welfare housing. “Your house will be ready for move-in by the end of December. I finally understand why you wanted to buy two apartments back then! From the looks of it now, one apartment really isn’t enough space!”

Chenglei said, “It’s not enough. If anyone wants to resell their apartment in the future, let me know.”

“Will do.”

Li Xiuxian looked at Chenglei in surprise. They had bought a house in the city?

Tian Caihua asked Jiang Xia directly, “Xiao Xia, you guys bought a house in the city? The shipyard’s welfare housing?”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Yes. I do some translation work for the shipyard, so I’m considered a half-employee. I heard there was welfare housing available, so I took a unit.”

Tian Caihua reminded herself internally: no need to be bitter. As long as she followed Jiang Xia out to sea every day, her family would soon be able to buy a house in the city too!

Li Xiuxian: “…”

“Xiao Xia, exactly how many things have you bought that we don’t know about?”

Chapter 356: Parroting?

Tian Caihua was well aware of this. After all, Chenglei had asked them if they wanted to buy in earlier. She immediately said, “Xiao Xia and her husband also bought ten stalls and five shops in the new vegetable market the city is building!”

Her tone was so proud it was as if she had bought them herself!

Of course, the reason Tian Caihua was being so boastful was simply to watch Li Xiuxian turn green with envy!

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Was there really even more she didn’t know about?!!

Ten stalls and five shops—what kind of scale was that?

How much money must that have cost?

Factory Director Zhou was surprised to hear this. “The East City Seafood Market? You bought stalls there as well?”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Did you buy some too, Factory Director Zhou? What a coincidence.”

Factory Director Zhou nodded. “I did; I bought two. Director Xu and Director Feng bought a few as well. We bought ours near the South Gate. What about yours?”

“Ours are all on the East Gate side,” Jiang Xia replied. “By the time we went to buy, many of those at the South Gate were already sold.”

“The East Gate location is quite good too.” Factory Director Zhou reminded them, “If you have extra cash on hand, you should continue buying. I’m actually thinking of getting another shop. Even though that area is desolate right now…”

Since there were no outsiders present, Factory Director Zhou began discussing his views on the market and real estate with the couple.

The couple shared their own insights, and Second Brother also offered his perspective.

Factory Director Zhou particularly agreed with Jiang Xia’s point: when it comes to investing in property, one should look towards the east first.

Li Xiuxian sat there, watching the couple and Factory Director Zhou talk eloquently. She was inwardly shocked.

She could accept it from Chenglei; he had been a regimental commander after all, and he had taken the university entrance exam while still in the military. It was normal for him to have some vision.

Second Brother was also a university graduate and worked in an official unit, so naturally, he understood more than most.

But Jiang Xia? How did she know so much?

Jiang Xia was talking about things like city planning, urban development, market trends, real estate development trends, and economics—concepts Li Xiuxian had never even heard of.

Was it because she had heard Father Jiang talk about it so much that she was now just parroting him?

Tian Caihua didn’t listen closely. Those things were too far removed from her reality; she didn’t understand them and didn’t care to.

Instead, she mused to herself: If so many factory directors are buying, could it really be worth it?

By now, Tian Caihua was firmly convinced that anything Jiang Xia invested in would definitely not lose money!

She had just finished a quick mental calculation. After paying for the boat, their family still had over four thousand yuan left—enough to buy a stall.

Tian Caihua tugged on Big Brother’s sleeve. “Should we buy a stall in the city too?”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Big Brother had wanted to buy one before, but they needed the money for the boat at the time. Now that they had some spare cash, he nodded. “Sure. We only need to provide a deposit first anyway. If we have enough for the deposits, let’s buy four—one for each of the children in the future.”

Big Brother wasn’t like Chenglei, who gave all his money to his wife to manage. He only gave a portion to Tian Caihua and kept some savings for himself.

“Great.” Tian Caihua beamed.

She leaned in toward Li Xiuxian and whispered, “Second Sister-in-law, our family plans to buy stalls at the seafood market. Want to go in on it together?”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Hahaha…

Seeing the expression on Li Xiuxian’s face, Tian Caihua was blooming with joy!

Time passed quickly as they chatted.

The two old boats were soon brought over.

The brothers all knew their way around boats, so they went aboard to inspect them thoroughly.

Aside from having slightly lower horsepower, there were no major issues.

The boats had indeed been maintained quite well.

Li Xiuxian negotiated the price down a little. They eventually settled on 2,500 yuan for the ten-year-old boat and 2,700 yuan for the nine-year-old one.

Because they were buying two at once and paying immediately, and since this was already near the seller’s bottom price, they agreed.

Jiang Xia asked Second Brother and his wife, “Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, which boat do you want?”

On the surface, the two boats were almost identical, and the engine power was the same.

Just as Second Brother was about to say he would take the 2,500 yuan boat, Li Xiuxian tugged his sleeve. “Xiao Xia, let me think about which one we want. Can I tell you when we get back?”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Of course!”

Second Brother first handed 2,500 yuan to Jiang Xia. “If your sister-in-law decides she wants the 2,700 yuan boat later, I’ll make up the 200 yuan difference then.”

“Alright.” Jiang Xia took the money and paid for both boats together.

Chenglei bought some paint at the shipyard, intending to give both boats a fresh coat to refurbish them.

Seeing Chenglei buying three large buckets of paint, Li Xiuxian realized he was planning for both boats. Wanting to test which boat might be “luckier,” she said, “Why don’t we buy two fishing nets as well? We can trawl a net on the way back to see how the boat’s power holds up.”

The shipyard made it convenient for fishing boats to test the waters, so they kept various types of fishing nets and gear available for owners to purchase.

Normally, shipyards didn’t stock such things. However, when new ships were being tested, owners often didn’t bring their own nets. The shipyard used to provide nets, but they would get ruined almost immediately.

Fishing nets were consumable items; they snagged and tore easily and required frequent mending.

The main issue was the hassle. It was a waste to throw away a net because of a small tear—after all, a net for a large fishing vessel could cost dozens of yuan—but keeping them meant wasting manpower on repairs.

The shipyard was full of skilled technicians; no one had the time to mend nets.

So, they started purchasing nets to sell to shipowners who came unprepared. it was much simpler that way.

“Sure.” Second Brother was looking at fishing rods. He gave a quick response and went to pick out nets.

Jiang Xia noticed a pile of discarded machinery nearby. She tugged on Chenglei’s hand and pointed. “Let’s go see if there’s anything useful.”

Chenglei had told her before that he was good at repairing machinery—whether it was boats or vehicles, he could fix it.

Chenglei walked over with her.

Second Brother picked out two small trawl nets, a cast net, and three fishing rods, then paid for those along with the three buckets of paint.

Li Xiuxian: “…”

She glanced at Chenglei.

Chenglei was rummaging through the pile of scrap machines.

How shrewd!

What was there to see in a pile of broken machines?

Jiang Xia was probably doing it on purpose.

Tian Caihua had said she was cunning, and it turned out to be true!

After searching for a while, Chenglei picked out two net winches and an engine. He asked Factory Director Zhou, “Director Zhou, are these machines completely scrapped?”

Jiang Xia took out a handkerchief to wipe Chenglei’s hands. “Director Zhou, could you sell these to us for a cheap price?”

Factory Director Zhou replied, “Want to take them back and see if you can fix them? The repair masters in our factory have already looked at them; they’re beyond repair. If you want them, just take them! No charge! We were planning to sell them as scrap metal anyway. Just haul away whatever you like! Let’s see if you actually have the skill to fix them.”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Thank you, Director Zhou. Then we won’t stand on ceremony!”

Factory Director Zhou rolled his eyes at her. “When have you ever stood on ceremony? Drop the act! You had the nerve to use a mere thousand yuan to reserve a ship worth over a million! Were you standing on ceremony then?”

Jiang Xia just laughed.

Factory Director Zhou called someone over to help them load the items onto the boat.

As meritorious contributors to the shipyard, the couple could certainly be gifted these few items.

Besides, if Chenglei actually managed to fix them, the factory could call on him if any of their other machines broke down in the future.

So, it was for the best if Chenglei could repair them.

Chenglei said to Big Brother and Second Brother, “Big Brother, Second Brother, help me move these machines onto the boat.”

The two brothers hurried over.

Hearing that the items were free, Li Xiuxian whispered to Second Brother, “You should also look and see if there’s anything else useful. Haul it all back!”

Chapter 357: Which Boat is the Wealth-bringer?

Zhou Chengsen ignored Li Xiuxian and went to help move the three items Zhou Chenglei had picked out onto the boat.

With two boats purchased, the family didn’t need to take the bus back to the village.

Zhou Chenglei pushed his motorcycle onto the boat as well.

At that moment, someone came looking for Factory Director Zhou. “Factory Director Zhou, Engineer Yang has brought his son over. Would you like to take a look?”

Factory Director Zhou turned to Zhou Chenglei and the others. “An apprentice has arrived, so I’ll go check it out. I wish you all smooth sailing and the favor of the God of Wealth.”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Thank you, Factory Director Zhou. Please, go ahead with your business!”

The others followed suit, thanking the director.

Director Zhou nodded to everyone and was about to leave when Zhou Wenguang couldn’t help himself and asked, “Grandpa Zhou, are you still hiring apprentices?”

Director Zhou glanced at him. “Yes, we’re preparing to recruit another batch soon.”

Orders had increased significantly this year. To complete them as quickly as possible, the shipyard was planning to hire more apprentices.

The benefits at the shipyard were excellent, and many people were clamoring to get in! However, apprentice slots were usually reserved for the family members of the shipyard employees.

But if Jiang Xia and A-Lei’s nephew wanted to join, Director Zhou could certainly make arrangements.

Tian Caihua and Big Brother were both stunned and looked at their son.

Tian Caihua pulled her son back. “What’s a kid like you worrying about that for? You haven’t even graduated from middle school yet; you still need to take the university entrance exams.”

Once someone finished university, they were assigned a job. Why worry about being unemployed?

Wouldn’t it be better to work in an office as a leader?

She hoped he would follow Jiang Xia’s example—learn a foreign language well, and he could earn hundreds of thousands in just one Canton Fair.

Director Zhou laughed. “It’s true that there’s no rush since you haven’t finished middle school. Focus on your studies for now. Even a shipyard apprentice needs to have some education.”

Tian Caihua slapped her son’s shoulder. “Did you hear that? Hurry up and thank Director Zhou!”

Zhou Wenguang mumbled his thanks.

Director Zhou said his goodbyes and left in a hurry.

Tian Caihua swatted her son again. “You better study hard and stop thinking about making money all day! Once you get into university, you’ll be able to find any job you want.”

Zhou Wenguang fell silent.

He didn’t likes studying and wasn’t good at it. His parents wouldn’t let him follow his father out to sea, so he wanted to find an apprenticeship and get a job.

Li Xiuxian glanced at Zhou Wenguang. He clearly wasn’t student material.

He had never scored above an eighty in primary school and spent all his time playing.

Tian Caihua was dreaming if she thought her son would get into university.

Was university that easy to get into?

Even Jiang Xia, with her excellent foreign language skills, had failed the entrance exams three times.

The couple from the first branch weren’t scholars, and none of their children liked studying; they just wanted to play all day.

As the saying goes: Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and the children of rats know how to dig holes.

Zhou Chenglei called everyone to board the boats.

Li Xiuxian quickly pulled her daughter onto the nine-year-old boat and said to Zhou Ying, “Hurry, tell your father to come start the boat. We’re going to catch some big fish!”

Zhou Ying had played on boats before but had never actually gone out to sea to fish. She excitedly shouted to Zhou Chengsen, “Daddy, hurry up! Let’s go fishing, I want to eat shrimp!”

“Coming! Let me just wash my hands,” Zhou Chengsen replied with a laugh.

Tian Caihua didn’t want to share a boat with Li Xiuxian, so she told her sons to board the other boat.

Zhou Chenglei said to Zhou Chengxin, “Big Brother, why don’t you go with Second Brother on the other boat?”

Zhou Chengxin nodded. “Alright.”

Second Brother rarely steered a boat, so neither brother felt particularly at ease.

Zhou Chengxin said to his eldest son, “Wenguang, go to your Uncle’s boat. You can help him pull up the nets later.”

“Sure!” Zhou Wenguang agreed and ran onto the boat.

Most of the children ran onto the boat where Jiang Xia was.

Once everyone was on board, Zhou Chenglei told the children to sit tight, and then he set sail.

After the boats had reached a certain distance into the sea, Zhou Chenglei let Jiang Xia take the helm for a while so he could cast the nets.

Seeing Zhou Chenglei casting his nets, Li Xiuxian hurriedly spoke to Zhou Chengsen. “Fourth Brother is casting his nets. Let’s cast ours too!”

Zhou Chengxin took the wheel, letting Zhou Chengsen handle the nets.

The two boats were sailing one after the other.

Li Xiuxian saw this and felt it wasn’t right.

Zhou Chenglei’s boat was in front, while theirs was behind. All the fish would be caught by the front boat’s nets first.

She said to Zhou Chengxin, “Big Brother, go a bit faster! Let’s pull up alongside A-Lei’s boat.”

“Alright.” Zhou Chengxin increased his speed.

Soon, the two boats were sailing side-by-side with a safe distance between them.

Zhou Wenzong and his brothers waved excitedly at Zhou Ying. “Yingying!”

“Yingying, we have pine nuts to eat!”

“Yingying, there are hazelnuts too! They’re delicious!”

Watching her brothers and sisters on the other boat, Zhou Ying felt a bit of regret for coming onto her mother’s boat.

They didn’t have anything good to eat on their boat!

An hour later, Zhou Chenglei let Jiang Xia take the wheel while he went to haul in the net.

The net felt heavy. After pulling for a while, Zhou Chenglei saw a large haul of fish.

Zhou Wenguang saw it too and rushed over to the other side. “Uncle, I’ll help you.”

Zhou Chenglei said, “Alright. Stand firm and don’t fall in.”

Tian Caihua told the children to sit still and not move before coming over to help as well.

Zhou Chenglei said, “Sister-in-law, just watch the kids.”

With so many children, he was afraid someone might fall overboard if they weren’t being watched.

Jiang Xia added, “That’s right, Sister-in-law, just keep an eye on the children.”

It didn’t matter whether they brought in the fish or not; the children’s safety was the priority.

Hearing this, Tian Caihua stopped helping. She turned to Zhou Wenguang and said, “You be careful too!”

“I know.”

Even though they had only been trawling for an hour, this haul was unexpectedly heavy.

Zhou Wenguang wasn’t particularly strong.

It took the combined effort of the uncle and nephew to finally haul it up.

Tian Caihua’s eyes widened. “Is this haul 150 kg?”

“Probably.”

Tian Caihua quickly looked over at the second branch’s boat.

On the other boat, Li Xiuxian saw Zhou Chenglei reeling in his net and hurriedly urged Zhou Chengsen to do the same.

Zhou Chengxin said, “Let me do it!”

He was afraid Zhou Chengsen wouldn’t have enough strength. Out of all the brothers, Zhou Chengsen had the least experience at sea.

Li Xiuxian said, “No need, Chengsen can do it.”

Zhou Chengsen also said, “I’ll start. If I can’t manage, I’ll call you.”

Zhou Chengxin agreed. “Fine.”

Zhou Chengsen began to haul in the net.

As soon as he started, it felt quite light. He knew immediately that there weren’t many fish.

Li Xiuxian stared intently at the water.

When the bundle of fish finally broke the surface, her heart sank.

The fish were dripping with water, and even though the haul was small, it took Zhou Chengsen some effort to pull it onto the deck.

Zhou Chengxin glanced at it. “Not bad. It looks like 15 to 20 kg. Seems mostly Spanish mackerel.”

Zhou Chengsen emptied the net. It was indeed mostly Spanish mackerel, along with quite a few golden threadfins and one rather valuable Greater Amberjack.

Zhou Chengxin estimated, “This should sell for about twenty yuan or so.”

Only twenty yuan? Li Xiuxian turned her head to look at the other boat.

She saw Zhou Chenglei and Zhou Wenguang straining to empty a massive bundle of fish.

That bundle… was it twice as big as theirs? Three times? It looked more than five times larger!

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Chapter 358: She Has All the Good Luck

Zhou Chenglei poured the fish out. To their surprise, there were two or three large Greater Amberjacks, with one particularly massive specimen weighing about 35 to 40 kg.

These three Greater Amberjacks alone were worth a significant amount of money.

There were also many tongue sole. It was currently the autumn fishing season for them, and over the past two months, fishermen at the pier frequently caught this species, though rarely in large quantities. Even though they were common lately, their price remained high as they were considered a premium fish. Tongue sole had very little waste, delicious meat with a high yield, and a smooth texture that didn’t get tough even after long cooking. They were especially tasty when pan-fried!

Zhou Chenglei decided to keep a few to take home for dinner.

Jiang Xia also spotted two Spanish mackerel weighing between 5 to 10 kg each, along with many smaller ones. There were also plenty of Silver Pomfret, several Yellowfin Seabream, two Large Yellow Croakers, squid, tiger prawns, large mud crabs, and more.

When she saw a large mud crab with barnacles growing on its shell, Jiang Xia couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Tian Caihua called the children over to help sort the fish. Jiang Xia also sat down to join them.

The arrival of the unfamiliar fishing boat at the shore caught the villagers’ attention. When they realized the people on board were the Zhou brothers, they swarmed over.

“A-Lei, Ah Xin, did you two brothers buy another fishing boat?”

“Whose old boat did you take over? You guys are really well-informed; I hadn’t heard of anyone selling.”

Big Brother Zhou Chengxin was the first to jump off the boat. “No, I didn’t buy one. This one belongs to A-Sen.”

“Even A-Sen bought a boat? Is he not going to be a leader anymore? Going out to sea to fish isn’t nearly as good as being a leader!”

Li Xiuxian was in a great mood and said with a smile, “No, he just plans to hire people to run it.”

“A-Sen, did this old boat cost three thousand?”

Zhou承森 replied, “No, it’s ten years old. Two thousand five hundred.”

“Ten years old? It’s been maintained so well; you can’t tell at all.”

“It looks more like a seven or eight-year-old boat. It must have just been refurbished. For a boat this size, two thousand five hundred is a steal.”

The villagers discussed it amongst themselves, their voices full of envy. Although it was a ten-year-old boat, it was larger and better than what most villagers owned. Most importantly, it was rare to find such a boat available for transfer. The price was cheap, and it could still run for several years. With a bit of luck, one could earn back the purchase price in less than a year, making everything earned in the following years pure profit.

Seeing the envious looks from the villagers, Li Xiuxian’s mood improved, and her earlier dissatisfaction with buying a second-hand boat vanished.

Once the fish on Second Brother’s side were sorted, he went to the family’s original boat to grab some crates. He began moving the fish off the boat to sell them, shouting to Li Xiuxian as he did, “Go help Fourth Brother sort his fish!”

Li Xiuxian still had something to say to Jiang Xia, so she didn’t object and walked over.

Tian Caihua and Jiang Xia were busy sorting fish with the group of children. Zhou Chenglei was using a rope to hoist the motorcycle down from the boat, while Zhou Chengxin assisted from below.

Li Xiuxian stepped onto the boat and said to Jiang Xia, “Xiao Xia, my family will take this boat then. It just so happens A-Sen only gave you two thousand five hundred anyway.”

Jiang Xia replied, “Fine.”

She knew why Li Xiuxian wanted this one. However, a nine-year-old boat was naturally better than a ten-year-old one, so Jiang Xia had no objections. Luck had nothing to do with the boat itself.

Tian Caihua knew what was going on too, but she didn’t mock Li Xiuxian this time, fearing she might change her mind again. Anyone with a brain knew the nine-year-old boat was the better choice!

Hearing Jiang Xia agree so readily, Li Xiuxian breathed a sigh of relief and sat down to help sort the fish.

After Zhou Chenglei got the motorcycle down, he said to Jiang Xia, “I’ll take you home first.”

Tian Caihua added, “Yes, Xiao Xia, go back and rest first!”

She was also afraid Jiang Xia might get too tired, which could lead to an unstable pregnancy and require bed rest again. If that happened, she wouldn’t be able to go out to sea!

As long as Jiang Xia and her husband were on the boat, a single trawl would result in a bursting net! Whether one believed it or not, it was just that uncanny. Moreover, word was that pregnant women had even better luck; the massive haul from just one net today proved it. They definitely had to make the most of the next few months!

“Then I’ll leave the rest to you, Big Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law.” Jiang Xia stood up and said to Zhou Chenglei, “Let’s pick out some fish and shrimp to take home for dinner.”

Zhou Chenglei grabbed a woven sack and helped her pick some out. Then, he took Jiang Xia home.

Father and Mother Zhou had already returned. When Father Zhou saw them, he said happily, “The TV has been brought back. We’ll save it for the new house.”

Zhou Chenglei said, “If we have it, we should set it up. It doesn’t matter if we have to move it again when we go to the new house.”

Father Zhou waved the suggestion away. “How can that be the same? We’ll wait and move it straight to the new house.”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t bother arguing; whatever made the old man happy was fine. He then turned to Mother Zhou and said, “Mom, Second Brother and I each bought an old boat. Make a few extra dishes tonight to celebrate. I brought some fish back.”

Father and Mother Zhou’s eyes widened. “Bought more boats? Your second brother bought one too?”

Father Zhou immediately said, “I’m going to take a look!”

He had originally planned to take a stroll through the village to satisfy everyone’s curiosity. When they had returned earlier, everyone saw that he had gotten a television while Zhou Bingqiang had nothing (though he had a red envelope in his pocket), and people were curious. He needed to satisfy that curiosity so they wouldn’t lose sleep tonight. But now, he had no time for them.

Mother Zhou said, “I’ll go take a look too and come back to cook in a bit. Xiao Xia, you go rest.”

Hearing this, Zhou Chenglei said, “Mom, we trawled a net of fish on the way back. I’ll do the cooking. You and Dad can go help sort and sell that fish.”

Father Zhou immediately asked, “You trawled a net? How many kilos?”

Zhou Chenglei answered, “It should be over 250 kg.”

Father Zhou beamed, and the auspicious words poured out instantly. “The very first net after buying it was 250 kg! This new ship brings prosperity; may the journey be smooth and the God of Wealth follow!”

Haha, with Wealth-bringer here, how could it not be prosperous?

The two elders immediately grabbed the grain pusher and the cart and rushed toward the pier as fast as they could.

Before Zhou Chenglei had even finished preparing dinner, the whole family returned from selling the fish.

After Jiang Xia showered, she came to help tend the fire. Since she was sitting on a bamboo chair, it wasn’t tiring and it kept her warm, so Zhou Chenglei let her be.

Tian Caihua walked in and handed a stack of money to Jiang Xia, smiling. “It sold for 625.3 yuan.”

Jiang Xia took it and tucked it directly into her pocket, smiling back. “Thank you for the trouble, Big Sister-in-law.”

Tian Caihua laughed. “It was no trouble at all!”

She leaned in close to Jiang Xia and whispered, “Guess how much the other boat’s haul sold for?”

Her schadenfreude-filled smile was even brighter than the fire in the stove.

Jiang Xia guessed, “Twenty-five?”

Tian Caihua’s eyes widened. “How did you know?”

“Just a guess.”

Tian Caihua waited for Zhou Chenglei to step out to get some vegetables before lowering her voice and laughing. “Your guess was spot on! Exactly twenty-five yuan! When she saw you guys sell for six hundred and twenty-five while they only got twenty-five, the look on her face was like everyone in the world owed her twenty-five thousand!”

Haha… it was hilarious! Tian Caihua was so delighted she ate an extra bowl of rice at dinner.

During the meal, Father Zhou asked Zhou Chenglei, “A-Sen, what are your plans for that boat?”

Once the fishing nets were repaired, he would have to help his youngest son with the big ship for voyages to the distant seas; he wouldn’t have time to help his second son with fishing.

Zhou Chenglei peeled a shrimp for his daughter. “Xiuxian said she plans to ask my father-in-law to come help.”

Li Xiuxian smiled. “That’s right. Dad, you just need to help guide my father and brother out to sea a few times.”

Li Xiuxian’s maternal home was in the neighboring Li Family Village, which wasn’t too far away.

Father Zhou said, “I’ll be taking the big ship out to the distant seas in a couple of days. A-Lei, Ah Xin, you guys take your second brother’s father-in-law and the others out instead.”

The big ship had been docked and not earning money for many days, which pained Father Zhou. He planned to head out as soon as the nets were mended.

With Wealth-bringer currently “nurturing the fetus,” it was more important for the son to stay home and look care of her and the three little lucky charms. They had to wait until Wealth-bringer and the little lucky charms were all safe and sound before making other plans.

“Sure,” Zhou Chenglei and Zhou Chengxin agreed.

Zhou Chenglei added, “We’ll take them out for a few days until they’re familiar with the waters.”

“Mm,” Zhou Chenglei grunted in agreement.

Li Xiuxian felt a bit slighted. Her father-in-law was taking the initiative to help Zhou Chenglei with the distant seas voyage but wasn’t helping them. She glanced at Jiang Xia, who was focused on her meal.

Jiang Xia’s bowl was piled high with shrimp that Zhou Chenglei had peeled for her.

Life was so good for Jiang Xia! She had her father-in-law helping to earn big money on the distant seas. Her husband stayed home to look after her while earning some side income. Her mother-in-law cooked three meals a day plus late-night snacks for her. She was brought food the moment she woke up, fruit was washed and placed in front of her, and milk was brought to her room. Her husband even washed her hair while she lay there!

In short, she didn’t have to lift a finger. Even the Empress Dowager Cixi probably didn’t live as comfortably as her! She had all the good luck!

Unlike her, who had to wake up at six every morning to make breakfast for the whole family, cook for her daughter after school, and never miss preparing a single one of the three daily meals. She also had to wash the laundry for the entire household. Even back in the village, she couldn’t escape it. She didn’t feel like a daughter-in-law at all; she felt more like the Zhou family’s servant.

Chapter 359: Skepticism

The next day, no one went out to sea because the weather was cold and the two newly purchased boats needed a fresh coat of paint and some refurbishing.

Chenglei ran back from the shore at six in the morning, soaking wet. He drew two buckets of water from the well and went straight to take a shower.

He ran incredibly fast; his father and the others were still trailing behind him.

Early that morning, the four of them—father and sons—had gone to the beach to find about twenty villagers to help carry the boats ashore and prop them up, making it easier to paint them.

After his shower, he cautiously opened the door and entered the bedroom. Seeing that Jiang Xia was already awake, he closed the door and asked in surprise, “Why are you up so early?”

It wasn’t even six-thirty yet.

“Mmh, I’m hungry, so I got up to eat something.” Jiang Xia stayed under the covers until she had finished putting on her inner layers before sitting up.

She had been woken up by Li Xiuxian’s loud voice outside.

Right on cue, Second Sister-in-law’s voice drifted in from the main hall again, loudly urging her daughter, “Yingying, are you still not out of bed? You’re going to be late for school!”

Chenglei frowned. He walked over, pulled the sweater that had been warming under the quilt, and helped Jiang Xia put it on. “Go back to sleep for a while after breakfast.”

Jiang Xia was still drowsy. She leaned her head against his shoulder and let him dress her. “Your body is so cold.”

“I just finished a cold shower.” Chenglei’s hands were still freezing, so he tried his best not to touch her skin as he adjusted her clothes.

“Let me warm them for you.” Jiang Xia took his hands and pressed them against her cheeks.

His large palms were as cold as popsicles. Jiang Xia gave a sudden shiver, and she was instantly wide awake.

Chenglei tried to pull his hands away, but she held them tight.

His palms were rough and calloused, so he didn’t dare pull back with force, fearing he might scrape her skin and hurt her.

Instead, he lowered his head and captured her lips with his.

This was the fastest way to raise his body temperature.

…

The two finally left the room together ten minutes later.

When Jiang Xia stepped out, Second Sister-in-law was carrying a pot of porridge into the house. Seeing Jiang Xia, she couldn’t help but remark, “Xiao Xia, up so early today?”

Her tone was dripping with sarcasm.

Jiang Xia just gave her a flat look.

Chenglei was already speaking up. “It is indeed’ too early. Second Sister-in-law, please try to make less noise in the morning next time. Xiaxia has been very lethargic lately because of the pregnancy. I wanted her to sleep in a bit longer.”

Second Sister-in-law: “…”

Having said his piece, Chenglei led Jiang Xia outside.

Li Xiuxian watched their retreating figures and let out a laugh of pure frustration.

Is being pregnant that big of a deal?

What woman doesn’t get pregnant and have kids?

By the well, Chenglei pumped water for Jiang Xia to rinse her mouth.

The well water gushed out of the spout, and after a moment, steam began to rise from it.

In winter, water drawn from deep in the well is warm and perfect for rinsing, though it cools down quickly.

After Jiang Xia filled her cup, Chenglei went to get the enamel basin and her face towel. Once he’d rinsed them clean, he went to the kitchen to mix some hot water for her to wash her face.

A pot of hot water was heating on the honeycomb coal stove.

Mother Zhou was still boiling sweet potatoes, and she said to Chenglei, “Xiao Xia’s bird’s nest is done stewing. Take it inside while you’re at it.”

“Okay,” Chenglei replied.

Only after Jiang Xia had finished washing her face did he bring the bird’s nest out.

The family began breakfast.

“Eat faster, you’re going to be late!” Li Xiuxian, still feeling stung by Chenglei’s comment, took out her frustration by constantly nagging Zhou Ying to hurry up.

Zhou Ying looked a bit aggrieved. “The porridge is hot!”

Second Brother had also been out moving the boats all morning and was drenched. He had just come back and taken a hot shower, and he had no idea what was bothering his wife. He glanced at the porridge in his daughter’s bowl. “The porridge is piping hot; why are you rushing her? What if she scalds herself?”

Jiang Xia was about to go inside when she heard this. She turned back to the kitchen cupboard, grabbed two large enamel bowls, filled them halfway with cold water, and brought them back. “Place the porridge bowls in this water to help them cool down,” she suggested.

She then placed Zhou Zhou’s porridge bowl into the water.

Seeing this, Second Brother placed Zhou Ying’s bowl in the water too and smiled. “This is a great idea. You’re always so thoughtful.”

Li Xiuxian nearly rolled her eyes.

She does one tiny thing after waking up and gets praised for it!

I’ve been busy all morning and people just complain that I’m noisy!

Just then, Tian Caihua walked in carrying a large enamel bowl full of radish cakes. “I made radish cakes today; everyone, have some. Xiao Xia, try one, they’re very fragrant!”

Jiang Xia smiled and thanked her. “Have you had breakfast yet, Big Sister-in-law? Why don’t you join us?”

“I’ve already eaten.”

Mother Zhou then brought in some steamed sweet potatoes and eggs. “I boiled some eggs. If Yingying doesn’t have time to finish breakfast, she can take a few eggs to eat on the way.”

Zhou Ying was a very slow eater because Li Xiuxian had insisted on spoon-feeding her until she was seven before letting her learn to eat on her own.

However, since moving to the town where they had to do everything themselves, Li Xiuxian no longer had the time or patience for feeding.

Jiang Xia sat down. “Mom, you should sit and eat too.”

“Go ahead and eat, don’t wait for me.” Mother Zhou took off her oversleeves, sat down, and began peeling a sweet potato.

As Mother Zhou reached out, Li Xiuxian noticed a new jade bracelet on her wrist.

The luster was excellent, looking just like the one she had seen in the jewelry store at the city mall for over one thousand eight hundred yuan.

She then glanced at Jiang Xia’s wrist.

Jiang Xia wasn’t wearing her bracelet today.

Li Xiuxian asked, “Mom, did you buy a bracelet? How much was it?”

Tian Caihua looked over as well. “Mom, when did you buy that? It’s beautiful! How much did it cost?”

Mother Zhou looked at the bracelet on her wrist and smiled. “I didn’t buy it. Xiao Xia gave it to me. Didn’t she find those two jade stones before? She had several bracelets made from them and brought two back for me to choose from.”

Mother Zhou preferred the multi-colored ones. The glowing green one was too thin, and with the amount of farm work she did, her hands were too large to fit into it easily anyway.

Even this one had required a lot of soap to slide onto her wrist.

Tian Caihua excitedly grabbed Mother Zhou’s hand, inspecting the jade bracelet with admiration. “This came from those two stones? It’s stunning!”

“Yes,” Jiang Xia nodded.

Fearing that Mother Zhou would be too reluctant to wear it if she knew the true price, Jiang Xia had told her it didn’t cost anything since it was made from the stones she had found.

Li Xiuxian didn’t know anything about the stones. “What stones? Xiao Xia found jade stones?”

Tian Caihua replied, “Xiao Xia has incredible luck. She caught a chest while fishing at sea, and there were two stones inside. Who would have thought they were jade? Xiao Xia, how much did you sell those stones for?”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

You can even catch that while fishing?

Li Xiuxian forgot about eating. She stood up and joined Tian Caihua in inspecting the bracelet. It was truly exquisite.

The more she looked at it, the more she loved it!

The quality was almost identical to the thousand-yuan ones in the mall.

Mother Zhou had mentioned that several bracelets were made.

Since they were caught at sea, they didn’t cost any money.

She couldn’t help but look at Jiang Xia. “Xiao Xia, weren’t several bracelets made? I’ve been wanting to buy one for a long time but could never find the right one. These two you brought back are both very nice. Could you bring another one back for me? I’ll pay you for it.”

Tian Caihua hadn’t even thought of that and hurriedly added, “Are there more? Then I want one too!”

Jiang Xia replied, “One of the raw stones was sold as a whole piece. Only the other one was made into finished products for sale. In total, only three bracelets were made, and they have already been sold.”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

She didn’t believe her for a second!

Jiang Xia was clearly just being stingy!

She had even said she would pay; did Jiang Xia think she was trying to take advantage of her?

Chapter 360: Overstepping

Li Xiuxian asked, “Sold? How much did it sell for?”

“I’m not sure,” Jiang Xia replied. “It was sent to an overseas auction…”

Zhou Chenglei took over the conversation. “Does Second Sister-in-law want it? I can find someone to help you bid on it?”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Zhou Chenglei handed a peeled egg to Jiang Xia.

It was better for him to say things that might offend people. If Jiang Xia said such things, his Second Brother might not be happy, but it wouldn’t be an issue if it came from him.

A husband and wife were one, but brothers were always brothers. To a man, a brother’s wife was essentially a stranger he kept at a distance out of propriety.

Among the brothers, there was a silent understanding, a deep bond, and a clear sense of boundaries. Before they were married, they didn’t care if they gave everything they had to one another; that was their brotherly love. They had been that way since childhood.

But things changed after starting their own families. Once married, one had to have a sense of boundaries, understand their new role, and know what was appropriate.

Li Xiuxian had overstepped.

If she wanted a bracelet, there were plenty in the jewelry store; she could just go buy one. Why would she ask a relative for something like that and put them in a difficult position?

If they gave it to her, they couldn’t afford the loss. If they didn’t, she would hold a grudge. None of them were single anymore; they weren’t in a situation where “one person eats and the whole family is full.”

Tian Caihua had never heard of an auction and asked, “How does an auction work?”

Zhou Chengsen explained, “Antiques, family heirlooms, and world-class treasures are sold through auctions. The highest bidder wins.”

He then asked Li Xiuxian, “Do you want to bid?”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

She was fuming!

Did he think he was a millionaire? Why was he even asking! He was joining forces with outsiders to upset his own wife!

After breakfast, Zhou Chengsen and his wife returned to town for work. The children went to school.

The rest of the Zhou family took their tools to the shore to paint the boats. Jiang Xia had never seen it before, so she followed along to watch the excitement.

Zhou Chenglei helped her into a long down jacket before taking her there on his motorcycle.

To paint a boat, the surface and the hull must first be cleaned. When a boat stays in seawater for a long time, barnacles attach themselves to the bottom. The longer they stay, the more barnacles grow.

The hulls of these two boats weren’t too bad; there weren’t many. The Zhou family used small scrapers to vigorously clean off the barnacles, old paint, and other debris from the hull and the body of the boat.

Once this step was completed, any cracks, holes, or previous repairs on the hull became clearly visible.

Before painting, they had to use ramie fibers to re-seal the cracks, holes, and any old patches made by the previous owner.

It took more than two days to scrape the inside and outside of both boats clean.

On the third day, Jiang Xia went back to see the progress. Mother Zhou handed Zhou Chenglei a torch soaked in kerosene. “Light the fire and sweep it over the hull and the bottom.”

Jiang Xia asked curiously, “Is this to ward off evil?”

Zhou Chenglei glanced at her and corrected, “It’s to burn off any fine sawdust or paint chips left after scraping, and to kill any microscopic barnacle larvae attached to the boat.”

Mother Zhou added, “That’s right—to ward off evil and pray for blessings, to drive away the ‘unclean’ things so that from now on, everything will be smooth sailing, prosperous, and favored by the God of Wealth.”

Jiang Xia sent a playful look back at Zhou Chenglei and smiled. “Right! Smooth sailing, prosperity, and the favor of the God of Wealth!”

Zhou Chenglei felt helpless. Jiang Xia was being led astray by his parents.

Next, the family used seawater to thoroughly scrub the boats inside and out, top to bottom. After washing with seawater, they used carts to bring barrels of fresh water to rinse away the salt.

Because these were their own boats—and bought secondhand—the family worked with extreme care.

Once the boats were dry and the cracks and damages were repaired, they could apply tung oil. Tung oil was used to make the wood waterproof, rot-proof, crack-proof, and insect-proof. After the tung oil lacquer was applied, they would add a layer of colored paint.

Jiang Xia didn’t go to see the later steps, fearing the formaldehyde; she only heard about it from Zhou Chenglei when he returned.

By the time they finished painting the two boats, five days had passed. They had to let them dry for another two days for the paint to set completely before they could launch.

After five days of hard work, they were finally finished. That night, at ten o’clock.

Jiang Xia was sitting in bed under the covers working on a translation. She checked the time and called out, “Zhou Chenglei!”

Zhou Chenglei was outside repairing a water pump. He checked his watch—ten o’clock. He quickly responded, “Alright, almost done.”

He hurriedly put away his tools, took off his grease-stained gloves and oversleeves, washed his hands thoroughly, and then went back to the room to get his clothes for a shower.

Jiang Xia gave him a sharp look. “Forgot the time again!”

“I didn’t. You go to sleep first; I’ll apply the face oil myself in a bit.”

For the past four days, he had been refurbishing the old boats by day and repairing machinery at home by night. On the first night, Jiang Xia hadn’t waited for him, and he had worked until one in the morning before coming to bed.

After Jiang Xia found out, she insisted on waiting for him every night. she would hold him while they slept to prevent him from returning to the machines after she fell asleep.

Zhou Chenglei had no choice. After showering at ten, he would take a hot water bottle to warm himself up and then get into bed for her to hold.

Jiang Xia ignored his comment and lowered her head to continue reading. Zhou Chenglei hurried off to shower.

When he returned, he sat on the bed holding the hot water bottle. Jiang Xia used her face cream to do his skincare routine. After finishing his face, she used clam oil on his hands.

It had been exceptionally cold lately, and the wind by the sea was harsh. Since he had been working outside from morning until night, his hands had become chapped a few days ago. He even had chilblains—they were red, swollen, and pitifully rough, the skin feeling hard to the touch.

Clam oil was very effective for chapped skin. Jiang Xia helped him with his skincare every morning and evening, and his hands were finally looking better.

Once the skincare was finished, Zhou Chenglei put the products back on the dressing table and slid under the covers, pulling Jiang Xia into his burning chest.

Every night, having Jiang Xia apply skincare products was a massive test of his self-control. It was a mix of agony and bliss! Every time, it stirred up a heat within him that he had to suppress.

He wanted her. He held it in until it almost hurt.

Yet, he deeply loved being cared for by her like this. Zhou Chenglei held Jiang Xia tightly, breathing in her faint, elegant scent, quietly waiting for the “fire” to die down. Every time, he just had to hold her for a while and think about not hurting her or the babies, and he would calm down.

Jiang Xia felt it. She looked up and kissed his sharp Adam’s apple as a reward.

How was he supposed to endure that?

Zhou Chenglei’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. He gave her a deep, firm kiss.

He couldn’t have her, but other things were still allowed…

…

A long while later, Zhou Chenglei got dressed and went out. He brought a basin of hot water back into the room and went out again shortly after to pour it away.

When he returned to the bedroom, Jiang Xia was already asleep. Her long hair was spread beautifully across the pillow.

He carefully slid back into the covers and looked down at her. Her sleeping face was peaceful and beautiful.

He kissed her brow, touched her belly with his hand to say goodnight to the babies, then closed his eyes and fell asleep, deeply content.

He slept surprisingly well that night. The next morning at four thirty, Zhou Chenglei got up to go out to sea with Big Brother.

The morning air was bitingly cold. Before leaving, he filled two hot water bottles and tucked them into the bed so the temperature wouldn’t drop after he left.

Chapter 361: Not Waiting Any Longer

Jiang Xia woke up at seven. As she was getting dressed, a single glance around the room brought memories of last night flooding back…

She immediately cut those thoughts short!

Today marks the start of the floor tile installation at the new house. Since they had hired new craftsmen, she needed to go check on things. She quickly dressed and left the room.

Second Brother was currently eating breakfast.

“Good morning, Second Brother,” Jiang Xia greeted him.

“Morning,” Second Brother replied with a muffled voice, his mouth full.

For the past few days, he had been coming back every afternoon after finishing his shift at work to sand and repaint his boat.

Now that he had actually bought a boat, he couldn’t just ignore it. If he didn’t do the work, it would only cause him more stress later.

Li Xiuxian had to stay in the town to look after the children. Her working hours weren’t as flexible as his, and her presence at home wouldn’t help anyway; she would only cause more friction. So, he had decided to come back alone.

Staying at home was certainly more peaceful!

He downed the remaining porridge in his bowl in one go, then took the bowl outside to wash it. He said to Mother Zhou, “Mom, I’m heading back to work now.”

“Alright! Be careful on the road. Are you coming back tonight?” Mother Zhou asked from the kitchen, where she was boiling sweet potato mash for the chickens.

“I won’t be back tonight. I’ll come back Saturday evening.”

The boat was already painted, and he didn’t want to keep bothering the family by coming back so often.

After giving his reply, Second Brother pushed his bicycle out of the courtyard and headed off to work.

Once Jiang Xia finished her breakfast, she let Mother Zhou know and went over to the new house to oversee the tile-laying.

Great-Grandpa didn’t know how to lay floor tiles or wall tiles, so Chenglei had asked Zhang Rong to find some professionals.

To finish the work as quickly as possible, they had hired three tiling masters so they could work on all three floors simultaneously.

Jiang Xia placed a basket of freshly steamed sweet potatoes on a small stool for the masters to eat. “How long do you think it will take to finish the tiling?” she asked.

The master replied, “This house has two bathrooms, so it’ll take about five or six days.”

Great-Grandpa was helping out nearby, using the opportunity to learn the trade.

Zhou Yongguo had gone out to the distant seas with Father Zhou.

Father Zhou had set out on his large boat as soon as the tung oil coating was finished.

On this trip, Father Zhou planned to stay out at sea for a long time, returning only for the Winter Solstice. After that, he wouldn’t go out again before the New Year.

Chenglei had asked Zhou Yongguo if he wanted to go on the distant seas voyage with the big boat or stay in the village to operate a small boat with him.

Zhou Yongguo chose the distant seas voyage. There was more money to be made out there, and he could see more of the world.

Jiang Xia walked from the first floor to the third, delivering warm sweet potatoes to the workers before leaving the new house and heading to Great-Grandma’s place.

He Xinghuan and Great-Grandma were busy making spicy small fried fish.

As it was near the end of the year, Lord Hou had placed a large order for the small dried fish. There were also many orders from the bus station, the publishing house, the textile factory, and the plastic factory.

Lately, He Xinghuan and Great-Grandma had been making small fried fish every single day.

The production had never stopped, and business was booming. Lord Hou was requesting more and more goods, and other middlemen had started knocking on their door as well.

Previously, Zhou Yongguo would borrow the production team’s tractor to deliver the finished fish to the city. Now that he was out at sea, Chenglei would take over the deliveries.

When the two saw Jiang Xia enter, they hurriedly said, “The smoke and oil fumes are heavy here. Why did you come in? Get out, quickly.”

Jiang Xia smiled. “It’s fine. I’ll only stay for a bit. I have something to tell you.”

He Xinghuan quickly moved a bamboo chair for Jiang Xia to sit on. Great-Grandma’s family was well aware that she was currently stabilizing the pregnancy.

Great-Grandma asked, “What is it?”

Jiang Xia said, “I thought of a way to make money. It won’t be too exhausting, and I think it would be perfect for you and Great-Grandpa.”

Great-Grandma asked curiously, “What kind of money-making method?”

Jiang Xia replied, “Renting a storefront near the school, or even renting a classroom inside the school to open a convenience store to sell notebooks and snacks. It would be best to rent a classroom inside the school…”

Jiang Xia carefully laid out the analysis for the two of them.

“It might not seem like much at first, but you’ll definitely earn more than two yuan a day. As everyone’s lives get better, you’ll earn more and more. Another advantage of doing business with students is the frequent breaks. You can rest one or two days a week, and then there’s summer vacation, winter vacation, and the harvest break. You’ll still be able to tend to your fields, but you’ll make more than you would as a mason, and it won’t be nearly as tiring.”

Great-Grandma also thought it was a great idea. “We’ll do it! I’ll have your Great-Grandpa go try to rent a classroom tomorrow. It just so happens that the principal of the school is an old classmate of his. Why didn’t we think of such a good way to make money before? That convenience store in the village bought a television after only being open for a year! I heard they’re even planning to build a new two-and-a-half-story house. There must be good profit in it.”

Jiang Xia reminded her further, “If you rent a classroom inside the school, it’s best to cooperate with them. In addition to rent, you should give a portion of your profits to the school. That way, the partnership will last. And when you sign the contract, it’s best to make it long-term—ten or twenty years is nothing to fear. If you have enough money, you could even buy a shop near the school so you won’t have to worry about being pushed out later. If the shop is yours, you can open it whenever you want… If you need help with anything or are short on funds, let me know. I can lend you some.”

Great-Grandma smiled and said, “We’ll go check it out tomorrow. If we’re short on money, we won’t be shy about asking.”

However, they likely had enough. During this period, their son had earned nearly four thousand yuan from the distant seas voyages, and they had made over three thousand from selling the small fried fish. That didn’t even count the wages for building the new house for Jiang Xia and the others. In truth, Great-Grandma’s family could already be considered a ten-thousand-yuan household; they just hadn’t reported it.

They had originally planned to build their own house after the New Year, but if there was a way to make more money, they would certainly prioritize opening the shop.

Once you have money, you can build a house any time you want, right?

After returning from Great-Grandma’s, Jiang Xia began her translation work.

Nearly twenty days had passed now, and Jiang Xia felt well enough that she didn’t feel the need for total bed rest anymore.

Throughout the day, Jiang Xia took a two-hour nap and helped Mother Zhou cook lunch. For the rest of the time, she would translate for two hours and then rest for one.

The house was quiet, and her efficiency was surprisingly high. By the end of the day, she had finished translating a Russian document of over a hundred pages.

For the next two days, Chenglei went out to sea while Jiang Xia stayed home to rest and translate.

On Sunday morning, Jiang Xia got up when Chenglei did.

The paint on the newly purchased boat was dry, so it could finally go out to sea. She wanted to go watch the launch.

The weather had warmed up significantly over the last two days, and it wasn’t cold once the sun came out, so Chenglei agreed to her joining him.

Second Brother’s family had also returned last night because their boat was also going out today.

Second Brother had specifically come back to take his father-in-law and his eldest brother-in-law out for the day so they could familiarize themselves with the work.

At six-thirty in the morning, the family arrived at the pier. They waited for fifteen minutes, but there was still no sign of the Li family.

Tian Caihua said impatiently, “What’s taking them so long?”

Li Xiuxian replied, “Soon! They should be here soon!”

Second Brother then said, “Big Brother, Fourth Brother, you guys go ahead and go out to sea! Don’t wait for us!”

Chenglei nodded. “Alright, then we’ll head out first. We’ll be in our usual spot. Once they arrive, come join us.”

“Okay!”

With that, Chenglei and Big Brother each took their respective boats and headed out to sea.

Li Xiuxian watched the distance anxiously, her neck craned looking for her family.

Chapter 362: Starting with the King of Fish

The boats went tu-tu-tu-tu as they headed out toward the early morning sea. One headed for Abalone Island, while the other steered toward the waters near Pearl Island.

The two brothers split up to go feed their fish.

The weather had been cold lately, and they hadn’t fed the fish for several days. Now that it was a bit warmer today, they naturally had to seize the opportunity to head out and give them a feeding.

Li Xiuxian watched as the two boats headed in different directions and asked, “Why are they going different ways?”

Second Brother replied, “They’re going to feed the fish. You wait here. When they come back, head over to the acquisition point and call for me.”

After saying that, he walked off toward the acquisition point on his own to find someone to chat with.

Who would want to stand by the sea in the early morning freezing in the cold wind?

Li Xiuxian was fuming.

Chenglei would never leave Jiang Xia all by herself.

Out at sea, Chenglei and Zhou Chengxin did indeed split up to feed the fish.

Second Brother could go to whichever area he wanted later; he was familiar with all of them.

Tian Caihua said helplessly, “Could we not have stayed together? Can’t we feed them together?”

If they went off on their own to fish, how could they possibly catch as much as they did when following Jiang Xia and her husband?

Zhou Chengxin steered the boat toward Pearl Island and said, “That would be a waste of time.”

“How is that a waste of time?! Couldn’t we have trawled a net on the way to Abalone Island together? Splitting up is what wastes time.”

Tian Caihua suddenly felt that having no one to compete with for the boat wasn’t so great after all!

She wanted to be with Jiang Xia!

When Jiang Xia ate meat, she could at least get a bit of the broth.

Zhou Chengxin said, “Can you stop being so naggy? Otherwise, don’t come out to sea with me next time.”

In the past, he hadn’t seen her being so fond of spending time with the fourth brother and his wife.

Now, she got up every day, made breakfast, and eagerly ran over to the old house.

Tian Caihua snapped, “You think I want to follow you? The one I want to follow is Xiao Xia!”

Zhou Chengxin, that unlucky man, wasn’t a Wealth-bringer at all!

Who cared about following him?

If Xiao Xia were a man, she would have remarried her already!

Tian Caihua craned her neck, watching the other boat as it moved further away, wishing she could jump into the sea and swim after them.

Zhou Chengxin: “…”

With only the two of them on the boat, Chenglei simply pulled Jiang Xia into his arms and continued teaching her how to pilot the vessel.

“Lean on me. It’s less tiring than standing like that.”

“I’m not tired,” Jiang Xia said, but she leaned back against him anyway.

She turned the steering wheel with one hand, controlling their direction.

He held her with both hands, standing steadily to give her something to lean on.

The boat faced the morning light, heading east all the way.

The corners of Chenglei’s mouth curled up, his eyes and brows full of smiles as he kissed her cheek.

It felt wonderful being the only two people out at sea with no one to disturb them.

Jiang Xia was very talented at both sailing and driving; she had a great feel for the boat.

She really was very smart.

“Our children will definitely be very smart.”

Chenglei placed his hands over her flat abdomen, greeting the children.

Jiang Xia said, “I’ve heard that a boy’s intelligence is inherited from the mother, and a girl’s is from the father.”

Chenglei hadn’t heard that before.

“It would be best if they inherited all our strengths and none of our flaws.”

“Oh? And what flaws do I have?”

Chenglei: “…”

“None. Use none. I was talking about myself—I’m full of flaws! It would be good for the children to be like you; they shouldn’t be like me.”

Jiang Xia couldn’t help but laugh just as the sun began to rise. “The sun is coming up.”

Seeing her smile, Chenglei smiled too. He hugged her tighter as they watched the red sun slowly rise on the horizon.

The winter sunrise was exceptionally gentle.

After sailing a certain distance, Jiang Xia asked Chenglei, “Can we cast the net now?”

“Let’s go a bit further.”

The world was cold, and all things were in hiding.

In winter, fish become less active and eat less. They rarely venture into shallow waters, preferring to stay in the deeper, constant-temperature layers to overwinter.

However, the weather was much warmer today, so the catch should be decent.

After sailing a bit further, Chenglei went to cast the net.

Then, Chenglei had Jiang Xia lie on the lounge chair to soak up the sun while he took over steering.

He had already secured the lounge chair right next to the pilot’s station. Even if the waves were large, the fixed chair wouldn’t tip over.

The waves weren’t large today anyway.

Jiang Xia lay on the chair, eating strawberries while reading her high school textbooks.

When Jiang Yang had come over two days ago, he had brought another woven sack of fruit, along with a basket of strawberries and a few kilograms of dried strawberries.

The entire one mu of strawberry fields at Jiang Yang’s house was dedicated to supplying Jiang Xia.

Whatever strawberries ripened each day, Jiang Yang’s wife would pick them and dry them, fearing that once the season ended, Jiang Xia wouldn’t be able to find any to eat. Drying them allowed them to be preserved longer.

Usually, they would send a basket of fresh ones to Jiang Xia every couple of days.

This time, Yang Bin and the others had also brought many mountain products, either picked from the mountains or grown at home. There were also hawthorns—someone thought Jiang Xia might want to eat something sour, so they brought an entire woven sack of them.

But Jiang Xia only wanted strawberries. It was as if she were addicted; if she didn’t eat one for an hour, she would crave it intensely.

Over an hour later, just as Jiang Xia finished her second-year high school math book, Chenglei began to pull in the net.

He had repaired a discarded winch he’d found at the shipyard and installed it on this boat.

Because of this, it was no problem for one person to pull in the net. Otherwise, he would have hired someone long ago.

But since he was alone, he didn’t trawl for too long, hauling the net after just one hour.

Jiang Xia put her book away and took the wheel.

Chenglei pulled the net.

It wasn’t a bursting net, but the fish was huge!

They had actually netted a giant grouper.

It took a lot of effort for Chenglei to haul it up.

At first glance, Jiang Xia was startled, thinking it was a large shark.

But once she saw it clearly, she noticed the markings. It wasn’t a shark; it was a grouper.

“Is this fish two meters long?” Jiang Xia asked.

Chenglei took a measurement. “Just a bit short of that. A little over 1.9 meters. I’d estimate it weighs about 200 kilograms.”

Jiang Xia: “…”

A King of Fish!

This was a true King of Fish!

Entering the net along with it were a lobster, some sand smelt, Bombay duck, mackerel scad, other miscellaneous fish, and some shrimp and crabs.

Chenglei said, “Let’s head to City Pier to sell this fish first before we continue further out.”

A good fish should be sold while it’s fresh; the fresher it is, the better it tastes.

“Okay. We’ll call the manager of Jufu Restaurant later and ask if he wants it.”

“Mhm.” Chenglei washed his hands and went to steer the boat.

When they arrived at City Pier, it was already 10:30 AM.

There were many fishermen selling fish all along the beach, and many people were buying.

After Chenglei docked the boat, he hurried off to make a phone call.

Jiang Xia stayed on the boat.

When people saw the massive fish on their boat, they were stunned!

“What a huge fish! Is that a giant grouper?”

“Wow, this fish is half as long as the boat. It must weigh a few hundred kilograms, right?”

“Is that a giant grouper? They actually caught such a big one? I’ve fished my whole life and never caught one that size! Where did you catch this?”

“Incredible luck, to be able to catch a fish this big!”

…

Jiang Xia didn’t respond to the crowd’s comments. Since she didn’t know them, there was no need to engage; everyone was just there for the spectacle. She lowered her head and quickly sorted the relatively small amount of other fish, selling them off while she was at it.

At that moment, a man wearing a jacket jumped onto the boat. “Hello, comrade! I’m the owner of Fuman Restaurant. Will you sell this fish for 1,000 yuan?”

Jiang Xia looked up at him and stood up. “I’m sorry, we’ve already called a restaurant we’re familiar with.”

The manager immediately said, “1,200! This is a very high price. Other restaurants definitely won’t give you that much.”

A delegation of Hong Kong investors was coming today. The city’s commerce officials had scheduled lunch at his restaurant and dinner at Jufu Restaurant.

If he could secure this fish, perhaps the dinner would be changed to his restaurant instead of Jufu Restaurant.

Jiang Xia saw the expression on his face and shook her head, testing him. “I’m sorry, my husband has already called the manager of Jufu Restaurant.”

Sure enough, as soon as he heard “Jufu Restaurant,” the man’s expression changed instantly.

Chapter 363: The Snipe and the Clam Struggle

The owner of Fuman Restaurant immediately raised the price. “One thousand five hundred!”

He had to secure the fish before the people from Jufu Restaurant arrived.

When the bid of fifteen hundred was announced, Jiang Xia heard a collective gasp from the crowd. It was clear that fifteen hundred was an exceptionally high price.

The owner of Fuman Restaurant continued, “One thousand five hundred is already very high! Even if the people from Jufu Restaurant come, they won’t offer more. I am being very sincere. In the future, if you have any good catches, you can bring them to our restaurant, and I’ll buy them at a high price as well!”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “We really…”

Before she could finish, a voice cut in, “One thousand six hundred!”

What did he mean, Jufu Restaurant wouldn’t pay more? They were certainly no worse off than Fuman Restaurant.

Xu Wenan ran onto the boat in a hurry. He shot a smile at the owner of Fuman Restaurant and said, “Boss He, I’m sorry, but this fish belongs to Jufu Restaurant. I made an agreement with this young lady’s family long ago—any good fish they catch are to be offered to Jufu Restaurant first.”

After speaking, Xu Wenan looked at Jiang Xia and smiled. “Comrade Xiao Xia, Jufu Restaurant will take this fish for one thousand six hundred.”

One thousand six hundred worked out to four yuan per 500 grams. This was an incredibly high price, far exceeding the standard rate!

The owner of Fuman Restaurant glanced at Xu Wenan. “Young lady, one thousand seven hundred! I’ll take it!”

Xu Wenan was fuming. He knew the owner of Fuman Restaurant was intentionally being difficult today. But he had no choice but to take the bait.

Xu Wenan gritted his teeth secretly. “One thousand seven hundred and fifty.”

Boss He chuckled. “One thousand nine hundred and fifty!!”

Xu Wenan’s anger almost boiled over. “Two thousand!”

If the owner of Fuman Restaurant raised the price again, he would let it go! Two thousand yuan was his absolute limit. Beyond that, the purchase wouldn’t be worth it; the loss would be too great.

He was betting that the Municipal Business Bureau staff would entrust Jufu Restaurant with hosting the investor delegation again tomorrow. Only then would paying two thousand for this fish not be a total loss. If they booked meals at Jufu Restaurant for the next few days, it would be even better.

Of course, his boss had told him to ensure the reception went perfectly, regardless of the cost. As long as they handled this delegation well, there would be many more opportunities for official bookings in the future.

The owner of Fuman Restaurant laughed. “Jufu Restaurant is indeed wealthy and powerful! We of Fuman Restaurant cannot compete. It’s yours!”

Xu Wenan felt like he might cough up blood from frustration. The other man had deliberately raised the price to nineteen hundred and fifty just to force him to hit two thousand, only to back out. It was a bitter pill he had to swallow.

He had no choice. For the past few days, Fuman Restaurant had managed to snatch away all the high-end seafood first. He hadn’t been able to find even a few fresh, high-quality fish.

“Comrade Xiao Xia, Jufu Restaurant will take this grouper for two thousand yuan.” Since things had reached this point, Xu Wenan called out the price with an air of generosity, despite the sting in his heart.

He had to maintain Jufu Restaurant’s reputation for being openhanded. Only then would fishermen think of Jufu Restaurant first and bring their best catches there.

The onlookers were filled with envy. How could they not be? A single fish earned more money than a whole boatload of their catches.

“Alright!” Jiang Xia tried her best to suppress the corners of her mouth, ensuring her smile remained polite rather than bursting out in pure joy.

Today, she had truly witnessed the legend of the snipe and the clam struggling while the fisherman reaped the rewards.

Xu Wenan asked again, “Do you have any other good seafood?”

Jiang Xia replied, “Yes!”

The owner of Fuman Restaurant pointed to the lobsters and other fish in the bucket. “I’ll take these lobsters, sand borers, squid, Spanish mackerel, ribbonfish, tiger prawns, and mantis shrimp! One hundred yuan for the lot!”

Xu Wenan: “…”

Again?

Jiang Xia smiled. “Thank you, Boss, but Manager Xu was the one who asked first. I have to sell to him. I’m sorry!”

She then turned to Xu Wenan. “Manager Xu, do you want them? I’ll give them to you a bit cheaper—fifty yuan is fine.”

These words immediately made Xu Wenan feel much better. He chuckled and said, “No need, I’ll take them for a hundred.”

The owner of Fuman Restaurant had only wanted to pit Jufu Restaurant again, while also trying to drive a wedge between Jiang Xia and Xu Wenan. The fish and shrimp he had just pointed out were only worth about seventy or eighty yuan.

He hadn’t expected this young woman to be so socially savvy. She knew when to stop and was even willing to take a small loss to make Xu Wenan feel respected.

Since his attempt to sow discord had failed and there was nothing left for him, the owner of Fuman Restaurant left the boat.

Xu Wenan wasn’t carrying that much cash on him. He asked, “Are you here alone?”

“No, my husband went to call you… he’s back.”

Zhou Chenglei strode onto the boat, greeted Xu Wenan, and said, “I just called you, but they said you weren’t in.”

Xu Wenan laughed. “It just so happens I came to the pier to buy seafood. I’m taking your grouper, plus those lobsters, sand borers, squid, Spanish mackerel, ribbonfish, tiger prawns, and mantis shrimp. It all adds up to two thousand one hundred yuan. I don’t have that much on me—could you come back to the restaurant with me to pick up the money?”

Two thousand one hundred yuan? A flicker of surprise passed through Zhou Chenglei’s eyes, but his expression remained calm as he nodded. “Sure.”

Thus, Xu Wenan called for a tractor to transport the fish back to the restaurant.

As the fish were moved off the boat, many people gathered around to watch the excitement. Someone asked how much such a large fish was worth, and they were stunned to hear it was two thousand yuan. Even for a fish that big, two thousand seemed excessive.

Consequently, people began vividly recounting the story of how the two major restaurants fought over a single fish until Jufu Restaurant emerged victorious. Unintentionally, this served as another advertisement for Jufu Restaurant.

Zhou Chenglei overheard bits and pieces and understood what had happened.

Xu Wenan heard people saying, “It seems Jufu Restaurant is the truly impressive one!”

“Jufu Restaurant’s seafood has always been the best.”

Hearing this, he felt even better. At least he had earned them a good reputation! With a reputation like that, they wouldn’t have to worry about customers.

“Lie down on the lounge chair and rest for a bit; I’ll be back soon.” After the fish were loaded onto the tractor, Zhou Chenglei gave Jiang Xia those instructions, grabbed two clean lunch boxes, and followed the tractor to the restaurant to get the money.

Most of the fish were sold, leaving only some less valuable rabbitfish, Bombay duck, and mackerel scad. Jiang Xia asked if anyone wanted them. A middleman offered twenty yuan, and Jiang Xia sold them immediately.

The middleman then asked Jiang Xia to throw in the remaining small miscellaneous fish and shrimp for free, but she refused. These could be used to feed the fish in their net cages, so their family didn’t sell those.

Zhou Chenglei returned half an hour later, bringing two boxes of food from Jufu Restaurant. It was already nearly 11:45 AM. Since they had gone out to sea early and had an early breakfast, he was worried Jiang Xia would be hungry.

Zhou Chenglei gave the food boxes to Jiang Xia and told her to eat first while he started the boat.

Jiang Xia said, “Let’s eat together. We can leave after we’ve eaten! Otherwise, the food will get cold.”

Zhou Chenglei listened and ate with her before starting the engine and heading out. This time, he steered the boat directly toward the waters near Abalone Island to feed the fish.

Having eaten her fill, Jiang Xia felt sleepy. She lay down on the lounge chair to nap.

An hour later, Zhou Chenglei brought the boat to a stop at the location where the net cages were submerged.

As soon as the boat stopped, Jiang Xia woke up. She pulled the jacket covering her and sat up. “Are we here?”

“Mhm. I’ll go feed the fish first,” Zhou Chenglei said as he put on his diving suit.

“Okay, be careful.”

Zhou Chenglei gave a quick acknowledgment, tied a mesh bag of bait to himself, put the breathing tube in his mouth, and jumped into the sea.

After he submerged, Jiang Xia took out her fishing rod. Zhou Chenglei had modified the boat specifically with a slot to hold the fishing rod for her, so she wouldn’t have to worry about being pulled into the water by a large fish.

Just as Jiang Xia cast her line, a fishing boat identical to hers approached.

It was the boat belonging to the second branch of the family.

As the boat drew near, Li Xiuxian looked toward their deck and saw no fish. She said in surprise, “Xiao Xia, did you not catch anything at all this morning?”

Could this fishing boat really be that unlucky?

Chapter 364: Breaking Even

Jiang Xia looked up and greeted them, “Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Uncle Li…”

Zhou Chengsen introduced the man beside them at the right moment. “This is my eldest brother-in-law, Li Qingmin.”

Jiang Xia followed his lead and addressed him, “Yingying’s uncle.”

“Dad, Min-ge, this is my fourth brother’s wife, Jiang Xia.”

Both men stood up and smiled as they greeted Jiang Xia.

Li’s father was already half-grey, and his skin was dark; he looked much older than Father Zhou. Though she heard that Li Qingmin was the same age as Zhou Chengxin, he also appeared older, with a significant amount of grey hair.

It was likely genetic. Jiang Xia noticed that Li Xiuxian had quite a bit of grey hair as well.

There was a pile of fish on their boat, mostly mackerel scad. These fish were very cheap; the whole lot would probably only sell for seven or eight yuan. Li’s father and his eldest son were currently sorting them.

Zhou Chengsen asked, “A-Lei went into the sea to feed the fish?”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Yes, he just went down.”

Li Xiuxian asked further, “Did you guys not trawl at all this morning?”

That shouldn’t be right! Her father and brother had only arrived at 7:30 AM, and they had already trawled one net.

Jiang Xia replied, “No, we caught a giant grouper in our net, so we went to the City Pier to sell it first.”

Confused, Li Xiuxian looked at Zhou Chengsen. “Is a giant grouper that expensive?”

Otherwise, why would they rush to sell it just because they caught one? There were many types of grouper, but no one in the village had caught a large-scale one weighing hundreds of kilograms in decades. Li Xiuxian couldn’t even imagine that Jiang Xia could catch a grouper weighing over a hundred kilograms.

Zhou Chengsen asked, “Was it a big one?”

Jiang Xia nodded. “200 kg.”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

At 200 kg, even at one yuan per 500g, they would have made 400 yuan.

Zhou Chengsen was astonished and grinned. “200 kg? That’s some incredible luck!”

It was a pity he didn’t get to see how big a 200 kg grouper actually was.

Jiang Xia smiled. “We didn’t expect to be so lucky either, catching such a big fish in our first net.”

Li Qingmin asked curiously, “Could a 200 kg grouper sell for 500 yuan?”

Li’s father interjected, “Absolutely!!”

“Xiao Xia, how much did it sell for?” Li Xiuxian pressed.

Jiang Xia answered, “We sold it for 2,000 yuan.”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

2,000 yuan?

That was five yuan per 500g!

Did she catch a 200 kg grouper or 200 kg of lobsters? How could it sell for 2,000 yuan? Was the grouper plated in gold?

Li’s father glanced at Jiang Xia. He might have believed 1,000 yuan, but 2,000 sounded like pure bragging! What kind of fool would spend 2,000 yuan to buy a fish?

Xiuxian’s sister-in-law looked quite sweet and pretty, but he hadn’t expected her to be so dishonest.

Just then, the fishing line jerked. Something was on the hook. Jiang Xia said, “A fish is biting, I’ll reel it in first.”

With that, she hurried to the other side of the boat.

Seeing the fishing rod shaking violently, Zhou Chengsen called out, “Be careful! If you aren’t strong enough, don’t force it.”

Since the two boats were close, Zhou Chengsen simply jumped over. He came to Jiang Xia’s side and took a look—it was actually a tuna!

Excitedly, Zhou Chengsen took the rod. “I’ll do it. What did you use for bait just now?”

“A large squid.”

Since the small fish and shrimp had been taken down to feed the fish, and this rod was specifically for big game, Jiang Xia had taken a squid that Chenglei had set aside. It was originally intended for their seafood noodle soup on the island at noon.

Zhou Chengsen: “…”

No wonder! Who would be that extravagant!

But this wasn’t the first time Jiang Xia had caught a tuna; last time she had used an anchovy. A squid was valuable, while an anchovy was worth almost nothing.

Jiang Xia stood aside and picked up the dip net that was slotted nearby. Chenglei had specifically installed several iron rings on the deck to hold things like mesh bags and iron hooks.

Jiang Xia moved to net the fish.

“No, don’t rush,” Zhou Chengsen cautioned. “Take it slow; you don’t have enough strength. I’ll wait for it to tire out before we pull it up.”

The fish was too big! It couldn’t be pulled up all at once. The bigger the fish, the less one should rush. Large fish had immense strength and could easily break the line or shake the hook.

Zhou Chengsen reeled in while playing the fish, waiting for its strength to fade.

Seeing how excited Zhou Chengsen was, Li Xiuxian asked, “What did you catch?”

Zhou Chengsen didn’t respond.

Li’s father asked, “A-Sen, do you need help?”

“No need!”

A-Lei surfaced.

Chenglei emerged from the water on the other side and climbed onto the boat. He quickly stripped off his diving gear.

Jiang Xia hurried to get his clothes.

“Slow down,” Chenglei said, following her in quickly, worried she might stumble.

Zhou Chengsen: “…”

Could this couple please get the fish on board first! Chenglei could dive in the middle of winter; was he really that afraid of the cold?

“I can get them myself next time; I’m not afraid of the cold. Move slowly on the deck, and be careful not to fall,” Chenglei told Jiang Xia.

“I know my limits.”

He knew, but he was just afraid of that one-in-a-million chance.

Chenglei took the clothes she handed him, threw them on, and then led her back out. He made sure Jiang Xia was standing securely before picking up the long-handled dip net and looking toward the sea.

“Wait a moment,” Zhou Chengsen said. “Wait for its head to surface.”

As soon as the fish’s head broke the water again, Chenglei aimed for its tail and scooped!

Jiang Xia saw the net touch the fish’s tail. Subconsciously, the fish thrashed its tail with all its might, and as a result, it threw itself straight into the net.

Experienced fishermen knew it was better not to scoop from the head but from the tail; the success rate was much higher. Jiang Xia noticed that Chenglei always scooped from the tail. With just a touch, the fish would panic, thrash its tail, flip its body, and fall right into the net.

He was the most accurate of them all—neither Father Zhou nor Zhou Chengxin was as precise as he was.

Chenglei dumped the tuna onto the shuttering.

Li’s father exclaimed in admiration, “It’s huge! Must be at least 35 to 40 kg. Your luck is truly something else to catch this!”

Li Qingmin asked, “What kind of fish is it?”

“Yellowfin Tuna,” Li’s father replied.

“Is it expensive?” Li Qingmin asked.

“It’s a premium fish,” Li’s father explained. “The price depends on the size, ranging anywhere from one to over three yuan per 500g. This one is so large, I’d guess it could sell for over two hundred yuan.”

Li Qingmin: “…”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

She glanced at the pile of worthless mackerel scad on her own boat. Even a deck full of those wasn’t worth as much as a single fish caught by the others!

She called out, “Trawl the net! Let’s get to work, or it’ll be dark soon!”

He was so enthusiastic about helping others catch fish. They hadn’t even earned back the cost of their diesel yet, let alone the wages for her father and brother! Meanwhile, the others had already earned over two thousand yuan—they’d basically earned back the cost of their boat! He really had no sense of priority.

Zhou Chengsen asked Chenglei, “Finished feeding the fish? Are you going to trawl again, or are you heading straight to sell the fish?”

Chenglei began bleeding the tuna. “I’m done feeding. I plan to sail further out to chase a school of tuna, then head to the City Pier to sell them. Do you want to come along?”

“No,” Zhou Chengsen replied as he jumped back onto his boat. “I’ll trawl a net on the way back and sell them directly at the village pier.”

Li Xiuxian asked, “Why don’t we trawl a net and sell it at City Pier like A-Lei?”

“I’m afraid we wouldn’t even cover the cost of the fuel,” Zhou Chengsen muttered.

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Li’s father added, “A-Lei saw a school of tuna from underwater? Let’s follow them. If we can net just one tuna, we’ll hit the jackpot!”

“Exactly!” Li Xiuxian agreed. “Trawling more mackerel scad on the way back is what will really make us lose money on fuel!”

Zhou Chengsen sighed. “We can chase them, but the school has probably long since moved on, and their direction is unpredictable. Don’t regret it later!”

Sailing further out meant spending much more on fuel. With their current luck at sea, they were likely to lose money. Fortunately, he had brought an extra barrel of spare diesel; otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered listening to Li Xiuxian.

After Chenglei washed his hands, he went to man the helm. The two boats set off together toward the deeper reaches of the ocean.

Chapter 365: Ancestors

Jiang Xia steered the boat while Chenglei cast the net.

When Li Xiuxian saw Chenglei casting the net, she realized that Jiang Xia must be at the helm.

Since when did Jiang Xia know how to steer a boat?

She was utterly shocked. “Xiao Xia actually knows how to steer a boat?”

Second Brother glanced over. “What’s so strange about that? A-Lei taught her, so she learned.”

Li Xiuxian grumbled, “Then you should teach me too! Jiang Xia has only been in the family for a short time and she’s already learned! I’ve been married to you for so long, yet you’ve never taught me.”

Second Brother countered, “It takes you a month just to learn how to ride a bicycle. Are you sure you can learn to steer a boat?”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

“I’m only afraid of the bicycle because of the falls. You won’t fall off a boat.”

Second Brother retorted, “Right, you won’t fall. You’ll just hit a reef and sink the ship.”

“Pah! Pah! Pah! Stop talking such nonsense! Who says such unlucky things? Not a single good word ever comes out of your mouth!”

“Do you still want to learn?”

“No!” With him being such a jinx, she wouldn’t dare try now even if he offered.

After Chenglei finished casting the net, he returned to Jiang Xia’s side to take over the wheel.

Jiang Xia felt their luck at sea was quite good today. Since trawling was a bit boring and she had already finished reading the high school textbooks she brought, she said, “How about I steer for a bit while you fish? It seems like we’re destined to cross paths with some big fish today.”

Chenglei replied, “Alright, just tell me when you’re tired.”

“Okay.”

Chenglei checked the boat’s instruments, scanned the surroundings, and then went to fish.

He hooked an anchovy and cast it into the sea.

Tethered by the fishing line, the bait was dragged along by the moving boat.

As Jiang Xia steered, she admired the cloudless sky, the shimmering blue waves, and the soaring sea birds.

When you get far enough from the coast that you can see nothing but the sea, the sky, the birds, and the boat, you realize the horizon has a subtle curve.

The deeper the water, the bluer the sea became.

Ten minutes into the journey, Chenglei felt a tug on his line.

It was a Spanish Mackerel weighing about 10 kg.

Once he pulled it up, he saw it was a blue-spotted Spanish mackerel, a particularly tasty variety.

Chenglei decided to keep it and take it home to make fish balls for Jiang Xia and Zhou Zhou.

Li Xiuxian had just finished sorting their fish when she looked over and saw Chenglei landing another big one. She turned to Li Qingmin. “Brother, why don’t you take over the steering to get more practice and let A-Sen go fishing instead?”

She recognized it as a Spanish mackerel. At sixty or seventy cents per 500 grams, a fish that size was worth over ten yuan!

It was yet another single fish that was worth more than the entire pile on her own boat.

Could it be that today wasn’t suited for trawling, but for sea fishing?

As the saying goes, “Fish against the wind, sail with the wind.” At the moment, their boat was sailing against the wind—perfect for fishing.

Li Qingmin wanted to fish too, so he said, “Let Dad steer! I’ll fish with my brother-in-law.”

Li’s father replied, “I’ll take the wheel in a bit. Let me fish for a while first.”

Having seen Chenglei pull up a large fish so quickly, and remembering the tuna Jiang Xia had caught earlier, who wouldn’t be tempted?

Li Xiuxian: “…”

She had invited two “ancestors” onto the boat; she couldn’t get either of them to move!

The boat only had one fishing rod, so the father and son had to take turns.

Before they even started, they asked Chenglei what bait he was using, and then the two of them began a spirited argument over which bait was better.

Li’s father argued, “Use the anchovies. Anchovies are cheap. A-Lei used an anchovy to catch that Spanish mackerel.”

“Use the squid! A-Lei’s wife used squid to catch a tuna, and tuna is worth a lot of money!”

“We only have one squid in total. It’s worth fifty cents even if we just sell it. You can use as many anchovies as you want without feeling bad.”

“If we catch one tuna, it’ll be worth more fifty-cent pieces than you can count!”

While the two were arguing, Chenglei hooked another one.

Li Xiuxian was about to blow a fuse. “Whatever! A-Lei just caught another one. By the time you two finish arguing, it’ll be dark!”

The father and son quickly looked over. Sure enough, the rod was bent into a deep arc. Judging by Chenglei’s posture, it was another big one!

“A-Lei, what did you get this time?”

“A Greater Amberjack.”

A Greater Amberjack!

Another valuable fish!

The Li father and son stopped their arguing. Li Qingmin said, “Dad, if you want to use anchovies, use anchovies. You go first.”

He would use the squid later.

Li’s father hurriedly baited the hook and tossed it into the sea.

It took less than ten minutes for the fish to bite, but it took Chenglei a full twenty minutes to actually haul it in.

The fish struggled for twenty minutes before finally running out of strength.

Fortunately, it had swallowed the hook deeply, or it might have escaped.

Li Xiuxian stared at the massive Greater Amberjack Chenglei had landed. It was even bigger than the tuna Jiang Xia had caught earlier—it had to be over 30 kg.

She estimated it could sell for a hundred yuan, or at least several dozen.

Li Xiuxian did the math; Jiang Xia and her husband really might earn back the entire cost of the boat in a single day!

Just then, Li’s father felt a bite. He shouted excitedly, “I’ve got one! A fish is on the line!”

Li Xiuxian hurried over to look. “…”

A sea bass.

A sea bass that didn’t even weigh 500 grams.

It wasn’t worth much at all.

Li’s father remarked, “These sea basses are quite tasty!”

Li Xiuxian gave a tight, forced smile. “If you like it, Dad, take it home and eat it.”

“…Alright.”

In the past, the Zhou family would have thrown such a small sea bass back to let it grow. After all, a sea bass only has a decent amount of meat once it’s over 500 grams. Since the sea was full of fish, catching small sea bass was a common occurrence.

Second Brother originally wanted to suggest tossing it back, but after hearing the father and daughter’s exchange, he kept his mouth shut.

Li Qingmin said, “Dad, your luck is lousy. Let me try!”

Li’s father stepped aside.

Li Qingmin rolled up his sleeves, picked up the lone squid, hooked it, and threw it into the sea.

Chenglei had caught two fish, and half an hour had passed. He stopped fishing and walked over to Jiang Xia. “I’ll steer. Go lie down for a bit.”

Jiang Xia washed her hands and went back to the lounge chair. While eating strawberries and pork jerky, she pulled out her book again.

With nothing else to do, she might as well review it one more time.

“To review the old is to know the new.”

Another half hour passed, and Chenglei began to haul in the net.

Seeing this, Second Brother called out, “Dad, Big Brother, we’re starting to pull the net!”

Li’s father was surprised. “Pulling the net so soon?”

Li Xiuxian added, “If we pull the net this early, what will we have caught?”

“We’re pulling the net and heading back!”

Li Xiuxian checked the time; it wasn’t even two o’clock. “Going back so early? We haven’t made any money today!”

“The whole sea is full of fish. We can just trawl another net on the way back. Didn’t you want to follow A-Lei? A-Lei and his wife are pulling their net now, which means they’re preparing to head home.”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Was Chenglei playing with them now that he had earned enough for himself?

They had only been trawling for an hour. How many fish could there possibly be?

Second Brother ignored her. He told Li’s father to take the wheel while he went to pull the net.

Li Qingmin still hadn’t gotten a bite, so he had to reel in his line. He found that the bait was gone. “No wonder I didn’t catch anything for so long.”

“Big Brother, come and help,” Second Brother called.

“Coming.”

Their boat didn’t have a winch, so everything relied on manual labor.

Li Qingmin and Second Brother strained together to pull the net up. The net was heavy to begin with, and with it dragging along the seabed, the task was far from easy.

Li Qingmin watched Jiang Xia’s boat with its automatic winch and couldn’t help but comment, “Wasn’t that boat only two hundred yuan more expensive? Why didn’t we take that one? Having a winch is so much more convenient!”

Moreover, he noticed that the other boat had much more power; it was clearly superior to this one.

Second Brother replied, “Your sister chose that one originally. But when we were heading back, she saw this boat had more fish in its net, so she swapped for this one!”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Li Qingmin snapped, “You’re stupid! Of course you should go for the more advanced equipment.”

Li Xiuxian retorted irritably, “A-Sen’s younger brother installed that winch himself later.”

If she had known that Chenglei could actually fix that winch and the engine, she would have personally scoured the area to find another one just like it.

Chapter 366: Blessed Words

Seeing that Zhou Chengsen and the others were also preparing to pull in their nets, Chenglei shouted a reminder: “Second Brother, I’m trawling alone, so I’m worried it’ll be too heavy to pull up if I wait. You have more people, so you can trawl a bit longer before pulling yours in.”

Chenglei’s intuition was incredibly sharp; he could judge how many fish were in the net based on the sound of the boat’s engine.

There was a subtle difference in the engine’s drone between a fishing boat carrying a heavy load and one sailing normally—even the way the boat handled felt different.

It was just like a car; it felt different to drive when it was low on gas compared to when the tank was full.

In any case, Chenglei could feel the difference. Whether others could, he didn’t know.

Chenglei only started pulling the net because he felt it was getting heavy. If there weren’t any fish, he certainly wouldn’t have pulled it in so soon; otherwise, he would have wasted an hour of work for nothing.

Hearing this, Second Sister-in-law said, “See? Even A-Lei says so.”

Chengsen pulled at the net while shouting back to Chenglei, “It’s fine! We’ll pull it in now and let it out again on the way back.”

Chenglei didn’t press the matter further.

The winch went tu-tu-tu, and a large bundle of fish began to emerge.

Once the massive swell of the net was dragged to the stern, Chenglei—lacking any mechanical lifting equipment—used his own strength to haul the fish onto the boat.

Second Sister-in-law stared at that bundle of fish.

Were there really this many fish in the deeper waters? A bursting net after only an hour of trawling?

No wonder Chenglei wanted to pull it in. If he had waited another hour, the entire net might have been stuffed full, and he truly wouldn’t have been able to pull it onto the boat by himself.

Meanwhile, Chengsen and Li Qingmin worked together to pull their net up.

A bundle of fish broke the surface of the sea.

Second Sister-in-law was speechless. “…”

Here it was again!

The same familiar scene!

Last time, right after they bought the boat, it had been the same way on the journey home. The neighboring boat had a massive haul, while their boat pulled in a tiny pittance.

Did the fish in the sea specifically seek out Fourth Brother’s net to swim into? Why was the difference so staggering?

Chengsen and Li Qingmin hauled their bundle onto the boat with very little effort. The pile of netting looked larger than the actual catch.

Second Sister-in-law could hardly bear to look. She turned her gaze back to Chenglei.

Chenglei hadn’t finished hauling his catch onto the shuttering yet. It was too heavy, making it difficult.

Seeing this, Chengsen shouted, “A-Lei! Have Xiao Xia stop the boat, I’ll come over and help you!”

He really should have stayed on Fourth Brother’s boat just now.

“No need, I can get it on board.” Chenglei gave the massive bundle a powerful tug, wedging it into position. Then, with strength surging from his waist and legs, he gave a mighty heave, dragging a third of the bundle onto the boat.

For the remaining two-thirds, he moved to the other side and pulled with all his might, finally dragging the entire catch onto the shuttering.

Chenglei untied the ropes, and the fish began to spill out. He stepped to the other side and gave the net a sharp yank, dumping the entire contents out.

At a glance, Second Sister-in-law spotted several Tuna.

So, when Chenglei said he was going to chase a school of Tuna, he actually managed to catch them!

Were his words blessed?

Chenglei had been chasing the Tuna, and the Tuna had been chasing a school of shrimp. In the end, they had all ended up in the net. Consequently, this haul included about 25 kg of black tiger prawns, each one looking quite large.

The Tuna were even more impressive. There were six in total, and each appeared to weigh over 25 kg. Chenglei glanced at one and estimated it was close to 50 kg.

Second Sister-in-law looked at the fish they had dumped out.

Great! It seemed the cheap fish specifically sought out her family’s net.

A pile of silver perch and rabbitfish—none of it was worth much! Even the crabs were those unpalatable, cheap box crabs! There were hardly any shrimp; she wasn’t even sure if they had 500g.

The most valuable thing they had was a single Spanish Mackerel, but it only looked to be about 5 kg.

Li’s father smiled and said, “This haul should make us twenty yuan. It’s much better than the last one.”

Second Sister-in-law pursed her lips. “Is twenty yuan a lot? We sailed so far out.”

She glanced at the neighboring boat. A single one of their Tuna was probably worth two hundred yuan!

Li’s father also looked toward the other boat. “The kind of luck A-Lei and the others have is very rare; you might not see it once a year. It’s likely because the weather warmed up today. After being cold for so many days, the fish have become more active.”

If everyone had luck as good as Chenglei’s today, every household in the fishing village would be a ten-thousand-yuan household, and everyone would be a millionaire. Where would there be any poor people left?

Families with fishing boats were already doing well, earning far more than those who went out to find manual labor. Just look at the Zhou family—how long had it been since they bought their boat? They were building one house after another, each bigger than the last. Their lives were truly flourishing!

Li Qingmin whispered, “I think your Uncle’s luck is just too good today. We shouldn’t follow him. If we follow them, all the fish go to them. What’s left for us to catch?”

Second Sister-in-law felt her brother had a point. She said to Li’s father, “Dad, speed up the boat! Let’s distance our two boats and fish further apart.”

“Alright.”

Then, she shouted to Chenglei, “Fourth Brother, Xiao Xia, we’re going to sail a bit further out to fish.”

“Okay,” Chenglei replied while tidying the net.

Seeing the entire shuttering covered in fish, Jiang Xia called out to him loudly, “Don’t cast the net yet. You take the wheel, and I’ll sort the fish.”

“Wait, I’m almost done! I need to pack the net away.”

This was a new net, but it already had several tears. It would need repairs when they got back.

Chenglei cleared the net to keep Jiang Xia from tripping, then picked out several poisonous fish and put them into a basket.

“I’ve put the poisonous fish in this basket. Make sure you recognize them and be careful not to get stung by their spines.”

There were too many species of fish in the sea. Today’s catch included a few poisonous ones that Jiang Xia hadn’t seen before. He was afraid she might accidentally prick her hand and get poisoned.

“Got it.”

After picking out the visibly poisonous fish, Chenglei moved a small rattan chair over by the pile of fish. Then, he strode back to pilot the boat.

Jiang Xia sat on the small rattan chair and began sorting.

Chenglei had custom-ordered this rattan chair from someone; he had even added a soft cushion so it was warm and soft in the winter and didn’t hurt her backside in the summer. It was very low to the ground—about the height of a small stool—making it convenient for picking up fish, and she could lean back to rest if she got tired.

Aside from the large Tuna and black tiger prawns, this haul included three Spanish Mackerel, each weighing at least 5 kg, with the largest being roughly 10 kg.

Among the larger fish, there was also a red cornetfish and an electric ray. The red cornetfish was entirely red and slender; people who knew their fish loved using them for sashimi. The electric ray was grey and looked somewhat like a Devil Fish.

The smaller fish included some sole fish of a decent size, each weighing over 500g. These were delicious whether steamed or pan-fried. There were also golden threadfins, which were great for pan-frying. Additionally, there were about a dozen leatherjackets, also known as horse-face fish, which were good for steaming.

The rest were a mix of rabbitfish, silver perch, seabream, and other miscellaneous varieties.

With so many species, sorting was a tedious task. In particular, there were many rabbitfish today. Their spines were poisonous, which significantly slowed down the sorting process.

Jiang Xia had been sorting for half an hour and wasn’t even halfway through. Chenglei said, “Take a break, stop sorting for now.”

Jiang Xia replied, “It’s fine, I’m not tired.”

“Take a break anyway. By the time you actually feel tired, it’s already too late! Come over and have some water first.”

Jiang Xia: “…”

His logic was so sound she actually had no comeback!

Chapter 367: It’s All Money

Jiang Xia took off her gloves, washed her hands, and walked over to Chenglei. “Are we going to cast the net again?”

“No more. Let’s head back early.” Chenglei handed her the water canteen after unscrewing the cap.

If they trawled another net, there would be even more fish to sort, and he didn’t want to exhaust her.

“Alright.” Jiang Xia took the canteen.

“Lean against me while you drink.” Chenglei reached out a long arm, wrapping it around her waist to steady her.

The boat was rocking slightly, so Jiang Xia leaned against him, drinking water while staring ahead.

Chenglei held her and whispered a greeting to the children in her womb: “Are you tired today?”

Jiang Xia swallowed a few mouthfuls of water. “I’m not tired. Didn’t I just say that?”

Chenglei, feeling a bit wronged after being accused of being naggy, replied, “I wasn’t asking you; I was asking the children.”

“…”

Feeling like she had flattered herself, Jiang Xia shot him a glare. She raised her foot and stomped on him, then couldn’t help but stomp again.

With her cat-like strength, it didn’t hurt at all. Chenglei’s lips curled upward. He held her tighter to steady her body and let her cause a fuss, leaning down to kiss away a stray drop of water from the corner of her mouth.

Jiang Xia stopped stomping after a couple of tries; since they were both wearing waterproof boots, she couldn’t really feel much.

She put away the canteen and rested her entire body in his arms, using him for support as she relaxed and admired the vast ocean.

Suddenly, Jiang Xia straightened up and grabbed Chenglei’s wrist. “Look! Look quickly!”

Chenglei looked up.

In the distance, tens of thousands of fish were leaping out of the water, dancing across the surface.

One after another, they rose and fell with the momentum of ten thousand galloping horses, drawing closer with the waves.

“It should be Grey Mullet.” Chenglei held Jiang Xia tight and quickly turned the boat’s bow, keeping the vessel balanced with the waves.

Once the boat stabilized, he said to Jiang Xia, “You take the helm. I’m going to cast the net.”

“Okay!” Jiang Xia responded.

Chenglei quickly found the single-layer flow net. Timing the distance perfectly, he threw the net into the sea.

Jiang Xia accelerated the boat.

The fishing net dropped into the water bit by bit, pushed open by the current to form a massive vertical wall.

This was a gillnet woven by Mother Zhou, not one bought from a store, so it only had a single layer; those sold commercially usually had three.

Mother Zhou had specifically made it to catch fish that surged in with the waves.

In the distance, Second Sister-in-law turned her head and saw the shocking sight!

She shouted frantically, “Dad! Quick, turn the boat back!”

Li’s father grumbled, “What is it now?”

“A school of fish! There’s a school of fish coming this way! So many! They’re leaping out of the water!”

She saw that Jiang Xia’s boat had already started pulling a large net.

Second Sister-in-law grew even more anxious. “Hurry up and turn back!”

Li’s father replied, “Don’t rush me. I’ve forgotten how to turn it back.”

Second Sister-in-law was nearly dying of anger. “A-Sen, you go drive!”

Second Brother had already walked over, but they were too far away. At best, they would only be able to catch the tail end of the school.

Second Sister-in-law watched helplessly as Chenglei’s fishing boat continued forward, stretching out a long, wide net.

After putting the net down, Chenglei walked back to take the helm.

He pulled Jiang Xia into his embrace, steering with one hand and pushing the boat to full speed. He wanted to expand the net’s range as much as possible before the school arrived.

The fish were getting closer!

Closer and closer!

As the waves hit the hull, the boat rocked several times.

Jiang Xia even saw some fish jumping straight onto the boat.

The sound of fish crashing onto the shuttering echoed like falling hailstones.

Chenglei noted, “It really is Grey Mullets!”

Jiang Xia recognized them too; they had caught them before.

This school of Grey Mullet was made up of quite large specimens.

Grey Mullets are usually active during the day, gathering in schools and occasionally leaping from the water.

Jiang Xia saw that every fish falling onto the deck was longer than half her arm. “Is it because the weather is good that they’ve all come up to jump around?”

“It’s their habit to leap. Winter is the best season to catch them, especially after the Winter Solstice. Every year, many fishing boats head out specifically to catch them to make mullet roe. The roe can be dried into mullet roe, also known as ‘Black Gold.’ It sells for a very high price.”

They were lucky; they hadn’t even gone out looking for them, yet they had stumbled upon a whole school.

The boat continued to rock. Chenglei held her tight, adjusting the boat’s direction to catch as many as possible.

The fish leaped for about ten minutes before the school disappeared.

By the time Second Brother and his group arrived, the fish had just vanished from the surface.

Chenglei called out to them, “Second Brother, drive the boat around and see if you can net some. These Grey Mullets are very large; they should be worth quite a bit of money.”

“Alright!” Second Brother answered and quickly drove the boat in pursuit.

Second Sister-in-law couldn’t help but mutter, “They must have netted a lot, right?”

She was depressed to death!

Depressed and regretful!

She wanted to beat her chest in frustration!

Missing out on billions—this was exactly how it felt.

Why did she listen to her brother earlier?

If she had known, she wouldn’t have let the boat go so fast!

They had just driven the boat away when they encountered the school. Was God playing a joke on them?

Li Qingmin spoke with a sour, bitter tone. “Of course they got a lot! They pulled such a massive net; they must have caught all of them! What’s the point of us looking around?”

He had seen them pull that long net across the water, welcoming the Grey Mullets surging in with the waves. They must have caught every last one!

Hearing this, Second Brother simply slowed the boat down.

A-Lei’s net was submerged, and most of those mullets had been jumping; how could they have caught them all?

It wasn’t a seine net that surrounded the whole school. It was just a straight line of netting. Any fish that jumped over it would escape.

He had seen plenty of fish jumping past the net and swimming away.

Otherwise, why would A-Lei tell him to pursue them?

With such a massive school, how could one small fishing boat catch them all? It wasn’t like two boats were working together to encircle them!

Perhaps because of his profession, Second Brother hated people who spoke irresponsibly and let whatever nonsense cross their lips.

Seeing the boat suddenly slow down, Second Sister-in-law panicked. “Why are we slowing down? Catch up! What are you doing?”

Li Qingmin added, “Yeah! A-Sen, why did you stop? Chase them! Lots of fish got away! And we’re still trawling; don’t let the net snag on the bottom!”

Second Brother countered, “Didn’t Big Brother say the fish were all caught by A-Lei? What am I chasing for then?”

Second Sister-in-law: “…”

Li Qingmin: “…”

Second Sister-in-law was so angry she nearly coughed up blood. Her chest felt tight. “He’s just talking nonsense! You believe him? Hurry up and chase!”

Second Brother’s occasional bouts of temper really left Second Sister-in-law with no options.

Why wasn’t he anxious at all?

Didn’t he feel envious seeing others make so much money?

It was enough to drive someone mad!

Li’s father scolded, “Qingmin, stop running your mouth! Stop talking nonsense!”

Li Qingmin muttered, “Fine, I get it.”

Only then did Second Brother speed up.

Second Sister-in-law sat down.

Her heart was exhausted.

Day after day, she watched others make big money while the money they made wasn’t even enough to cover fuel costs and labor.

It was exhausting!

She looked toward Jiang Xia’s boat from a distance. Jiang Xia was steering, and Chenglei was hauling in the net.

One white Grey Mullet after another hung from the net, and each one was a substantial size.

It was all money!

Someone else’s money!

Chapter 368: Making a Fortune Daily

As the nets were hauled up, one grey mullet after another could be seen hanging from the white mesh.

This type of net fishing was quite tedious, as each fish had to be plucked off individually.

Chenglei pulled the net in with one hand while picking off the fish with the other, tossing them into the crates.

However, there were simply too many fish caught in the mesh to pick them off one by one. Fearing that some might break free and escape if the net stayed in the water too long, he simply hauled the entire net onto the boat before picking the fish off.

The shuttering was covered in nets and fish.

Jiang Xia steered the boat for over an hour, and Chenglei spent that entire hour organizing the catch.

He couldn’t finish; there were just too many to pick off.

As they neared the pier, Chenglei went to guide Jiang Xia in docking the boat. Once she had successfully brought the vessel to a halt, he went ashore.

To get the fish organized and sold as quickly as possible, Chenglei hired four women from the pier to help sort the catch.

The women laughed when they saw the boat overflowing with fish. “You two certainly have wonderful luck, catching this much fish!”

“Have you been at this since last night?”

“Such a young couple and so industrious, heading out to sea in the middle of the night?”

Jiang Xia replied to the women with a smile, “No, we only went out to sea this morning.”

“You netted this many fish just this morning? That truly is incredible luck!”

“And they’re all good fish! These are quite expensive! Such luck!”

Jiang Xia added, “It’s the kind of luck you don’t encounter once in a whole year.”

Chenglei needed to call Xu Wenan and Lord Hou. He said to Jiang Xia, “Sit down and rest a bit, don’t help with the sorting. I’m going to call Manager Xu.”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Go ahead!”

After Chenglei left to make the calls, the women spoke up again. “Your man really dotes on you! He can’t bear to let you lift a finger.”

“Are you pregnant?”

“In most families, a daughter-in-law has to work even when she’s pregnant. You have a good man; he knows how to cherish his wife.”

Jiang Xia sat there and simply smiled as a response to their chatter.

The four women were efficient workers. The boatload of fish was sorted in about an hour.

They even thoughtfully separated the male and female grey mullets.

There was a price difference between grey mullets that could be used to make mullet roe and those that couldn’t.

The boat was now neatly packed with crates of fish. The nets had been untangled, and they even helped wash down the shuttering.

Jiang Xia paid each of them one yuan for their labor and gave each woman a grey mullet and 1.5 kg of rabbitfish.

One yuan was the standard daily wage at the pier, so Jiang Xia didn’t want to break the local rules, but the fish were theirs. She could give away whatever she pleased, and no one could complain.

The four women were overjoyed to receive their wages along with a grey mullet and a few kg of rabbitfish.

A grey mullet could be sold for four or five yuan, and while rabbitfish were cheap, they were delicious in a fish stew and could be taken home for a meal.

Because Jiang Xia was generous, they stayed on the boat and didn’t rush off. Once Chenglei had sold the fish, they even helped carry the crates off the boat and into the vehicles.

As the four of them left, they called out warmly to Jiang Xia, “Little sister, if you have fish to sort next time, remember to look for us!”

“We work at this pier almost every day. Sorting fish, weaving nets, repairing nets—we can do it all.”

Jiang Xia smiled and replied, “Alright.”

After all the fish were sold, Chenglei sailed away.

Jiang Xia sat on the lounge chair to balance the books, counting the cash and recording the entries.

There were seven Yellowfin Tuna. Aside from the one over 50 kg that Xu Wenan took for 3 yuan per 500g, the others were all over 30 kg. Those were sold to Lord Hou for 2.5 yuan per 500g.

The tuna alone brought in 1,285.60 yuan.

The grey mullets were sold separately by gender. Chenglei kept twenty of the largest females.

The rest were all sold.

There were 112 females and 536 males.

Jiang Xia remarked, “This gender ratio is completely out of balance!”

Chenglei explained, “In a school of grey mullet, there’s usually one female to every four males, so there are more males. Furthermore, a single female can produce five to seven million eggs.”

“So it’s a textbook case of polyandry,” Jiang Xia couldn’t help but ask. “The seven million fry she produces—do they have the same father or different ones?”

Chenglei: “…”

“Speaking of which, is it common in fish for there to be more males? Are they all polyandrous?”

Chenglei: “…”

He really shouldn’t have told her so much.

What on earth was she talking about with “polyandry”?

Generally, when fishermen caught grey mullet, they would sell the males directly and extract the roe from the females, selling the meat and the roe separately. There were specialized factories that bought the roe to process into mullet roe.

Chenglei didn’t want to deal with that hassle. He sold the females for 1.2 yuan per 500g and the males for 0.6 yuan per 500g, selling them all directly to Lord Hou.

The females totaled 530 kg, and the males totaled 1,876 kg.

From this encounter with a large school of grey mullet, they earned a total of 3,523.20 yuan.

He kept one Spanish Mackerel and sold the rest, totaling 39.76 yuan.

Chenglei didn’t sell the black tiger prawns; he took them home to eat, planning to dry whatever they couldn’t finish.

He also kept the squid, octopus, some rabbitfish, and a large crate of miscellaneous small fish.

The rest were all sold, totaling nearly 100 kg, which brought in 86.37 yuan.

In total, this trip earned them 7,134.33 yuan.

After deducting 40 yuan for two barrels of fuel and 4 yuan for labor—not counting the wear and tear on the nets—it was a massive profit.

When Chenglei and Zhou Chengxin had gone out the two days prior, the weather was cold and fish were scarce; they had only made about two or three hundred yuan each.

Chenglei hoped the warmth would last a bit longer so they could earn back the money for the furniture before the Lunar New Year.

He was also thinking that once they received the keys for the shipyard’s welfare housing, they should renovate immediately. Otherwise, once spring arrived after the New Year, the damp weather would make it difficult. By summer, the baby would be due.

Renovating would require a sum of money, and in April, after the New Year, the custom-ordered net cages would arrive, which would be another large expense.

Right now, they didn’t actually have much money left on them—only about five thousand yuan.

Fortunately, today was another day of raking in the money.

They had finally become a ten-thousand-yuan household again!

Jiang Xia’s eyes crinkled with laughter.

Chenglei watched as Jiang Xia smilingly counted the bills one by one, making sure every note was facing the same direction and stacking them neatly.

The look in her eyes as she counted the money was as gentle as the sunset on the horizon.

By the time they returned to the village pier, it was already five-thirty.

The first branch’s fishing boat had also just docked.

They were still lining up to sell their fish.

When Tian Caihua saw Jiang Xia, she asked excitedly, “Xiao Xia, how was the harvest today? We did quite well; we can probably sell ours for over two hundred yuan!”

Jiang Xia smiled and said, “We had a good harvest too.”

Tian Caihua didn’t even ask how much Jiang Xia made; she knew it wouldn’t be a small amount anyway, and asking didn’t put the money in her pocket!

She asked Jiang Xia, “Did Second Sister-in-law’s group go to your side? Do you know how much they earned at sea today?”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “I don’t know. We ran into a school of grey mullet. Second Brother sailed off to chase the mullet, so we went to the City Pier to sell ours.”

Tian Caihua’s eyes widened. “You ran into a school of grey mullet?”

“Yes.”

Tian Caihua turned around and shot Zhou Chengxin a fierce glare.

It was all his fault—he was prosperous in children but not in wealth!

There was money on the ground and he didn’t even know to follow along and pick it up!

Being last in line is even worse than squandering the family fortune!

He wasn’t even as good as a Wealth-Dispersing Boy!

If he had listened to her this morning and followed Jiang Xia to Abalone Island to feed the fish before heading back to Pearl Island, they wouldn’t have missed the school!

This time, Li秀娴 had picked up a bargain!

It was all because Zhou Chengxin was stupid.

Zhou Chengxin, who was suddenly targeted by the “eye-daggers” for no apparent reason: “…”

What now?

Chapter 369: Never Visits Without a Reason

Just then, the boat belonging to the second branch also returned.

Tian Caihua immediately grabbed Jiang Xia’s hand, ready to run over.

“Sister-in-law!” Chenglei was just wedging a crate of fish and shrimp intended for home onto the front of his motorcycle. He looked back and immediately barked out a warning to Tian Caihua.

Tian Caihua finally realized that Jiang Xia couldn’t be running around right now. She quickly let go of Jiang Xia’s hand. “I’ll go help Sister-in-law! Xiao Xia, you stay here!”

Chenglei glanced at Zhou Chengsen’s boat. There were several loads of fish on it, and with three men present, they could move everything in one trip. He didn’t go over to help; even if the catch was large, he had to get Jiang Xia home first before coming back to assist.

Chenglei rode the motorcycle over to Jiang Xia. “Let’s go home first.”

“Okay.” Jiang Xia stepped onto the bike.

Chenglei leaned over to steady her with his hand, then said to Big Brother, “Big Brother, we’re heading home. We caught some black tiger prawns today; do you want to come back to the old house for dinner?”

Big Brother shook his head. “Not today, maybe next time!”

Today, both couples had gone out to sea together and worked for eleven hours. Who had the energy left to prepare a huge spread of food?

Besides, were they supposed to let their mother cook for that many people all by herself?

It was better for everyone to go home, have a simple meal, wash up, and go straight to sleep.

Chenglei nodded. “Then we’ll head back first.”

Tian Caihua ran over and saw that the second branch’s boat only had four or five loads of fish. Moreover, they were mostly cheap varieties worth only a few cents or a dime or two; there weren’t many expensive fish. She felt relieved!

As for the Grey Mullet Jiang Xia had mentioned, she only saw two, which wasn’t even as many as Chenglei had kept for them to take home.

Having been sisters-in-law for nearly ten years, one look at Li Xiuxian’s face told her the harvest hadn’t been great. She feigned ignorance and smiled. “Xiao Xia said she ran into a school of Grey Mullet today! Second Brother, Sister-in-law, today’s trip must have been a huge success, right? Did you go to the city to sell the fish as well?”

Li Xiuxian was already irritated. They had chased the school for hours only to net two fish. She snapped, “Jiang Xia encountered them, we didn’t!”

Tian Caihua feigned surprise. “Ah? Were you guys that far apart? That’s such a shame!”

Having found out what she wanted to know, Tian Caihua didn’t want to stick around.

Why stay? To help Li Xiuxian work?

She said, “I’m going home to cook. I don’t know if those boys have even started dinner.”

With that, she glanced at Li’s father and Li Qingmin, then asked Li Xiuxian, “Sister-in-law, are you going back to the township tonight or staying at the old house?”

Li Xiuxian replied, “Staying at the old house.”

She was exhausted—both tired and hungry. She didn’t have the strength to ride her bicycle back to the township, let alone cook once she got there.

Zhou Chengsen interjected, “We’re going back to the township.”

Li Xiuxian looked at him. “It’s already past five o’clock. By the time we finish selling the fish, it’ll be six. It’s dark already; why go back to the township? It’s not safe to travel at night. We’re not going; we’ll stay the night at the old house.”

Zhou Chengsen said, “It was Dad and Big Brother’s first day helping us go out to sea. I want to take them to a restaurant in the township.”

Li Xiuxian argued, “We can just eat at home. My father and brother aren’t strangers; there’s no need to be so formal.”

They barely had any fish to sell today. If they went to eat at a restaurant in town, they’d likely lose money on the whole trip.

Li’s father agreed, “That’s right! No need to waste money. We can just grab a bite at home.”

Zhou Chengsen replied, “Fine, then you go back first and cook to host Dad and Big Brother.”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Zhou Chengsen continued, “While you’re at it, take that Grey Mullet and the Spanish mackerel back to cook, and bring the bucket of fish and shrimp too. Dad, Big Brother, and I will stay here and sell the fish.”

Tian Caihua laughed. “I rode my bike here. Come on! I’ll give you a lift back so you can get started on dinner. Xiao Xia worked all day and she’s pregnant, so she certainly won’t be cooking. A-Lei has to look after her, so he won’t have time either. I’m afraid Mom won’t be able to manage everything alone even by seven o’clock, and that would delay your father and brother from getting home.”

Zhou Chengsen said, “Thanks for the trouble, Sister-in-law!”

Zhou Chengsen walked over and grabbed a bucket containing some rabbitfish and shrimp, intending to add the Grey Mullet and blue-spotted Spanish mackerel to it.

Li Xiuxian quickly snatched the bucket from his hand and began picking out some rabbitfish and silver perch. “Dad, Big Brother, it gets dark early in the winter and the roads aren’t safe at night. Why don’t you two head home now while there’s still light? Take some fish back for Mom and Sister-in-law to eat.”

She truly had no energy left to cook.

And if she didn’t cook the meal herself, who knew what Zhou Chengsen might do?

Li Xiuxian handed the bucket to Li Qingmin. “Next time we go fishing, come back earlier and we’ll eat at the house. Today is just too late; I’m worried.”

Li Qingmin wasn’t displeased. Taking some fish and shrimp home would provide an extra dish for the children. “Alright, we’ll help move the fish to the buying station and then head home.”

Zhou Chengsen added, “Next time I’ll take Dad and Big Brother to a restaurant in the township, and we’ll invite Mom and his wife as well.”

Eating at the old house put the most burden on his mother, and it also inconvenienced A-Lei and his wife.

He simply felt bad for his mother and didn’t want to trouble his siblings; it wasn’t that he was stingy about the meal.

It was only right for them to host his father-in-law and eldest brother-in-law, but it wasn’t right to involve everyone else.

After all, what did Li Xiuxian’s father and brother have to do with his own parents and siblings?

Nothing at all.

When Jiang Xia and Chenglei arrived home, they saw a woman in the courtyard talking to Mother Zhou.

Seeing them return, Zhang Aijiao smiled and said, “A-Lei, Xiao Xia, you’re back from the sea.”

“Auntie,” Chenglei greeted. Jiang Xia followed suit, calling her “Auntie” as well.

Zhang Aijiao was the wife of Father Zhou’s cousin. They were considered fairly close relatives in the village.

However, the relationship between the two families had soured during their grandfather’s generation and they hadn’t been close since.

Jiang Xia had heard that Zhang Aijiao’s father-in-law had borrowed two hundred yuan from Chenglei’s grandfather years ago. Later, after the father-in-law passed away, Chenglei’s grandmother fell ill and urgently needed money for medical treatment. When they went to ask for the debt to be repaid, the other family denied it since there was no written receipt.

The relationship had been cold ever since.

Seeing her suddenly show up today, Jiang Xia guessed she was here with an ulterior motive.

Zhang Aijiao acknowledged them and looked Jiang Xia over with a smile. “A-Lei’s wife looks like she’s put on a bit of weight since she first came back.”

Jiang Xia smiled back. “I have. The seafood is nourishing, and Mom’s cooking is so good that I can’t help but gain weight from eating so much.”

Lately, she had been doing nothing but eating and sleeping; it would be strange if she hadn’t gained weight.

It wasn’t very obvious elsewhere, but Jiang Xia noticed it in a certain area.

Even before the pregnancy really showed, things were starting to fill out there.

“Being a bit plump is a blessing. Look at the fortune you have now, buying one boat after another. But going out to sea must be exhausting, isn’t it? With so many boats, can you manage? Was it just the two of you out there today?”

“Not exactly. We went out with Big Brother and Second Brother today.”

“Two people aren’t enough for a crew, right? A-Lei, Xiao Xia has such delicate skin; how can you bear to let your wife go out to sea so often? Ah Xing has nothing to do at home right now. I’ll have him go help you tomorrow. That way, Xiao Xia won’t have to work so hard.”

As expected, she never visits without an ulterior motive. Jiang Xia gave Chenglei a quiet, knowing look.

Chapter 370: Kicking Someone Out

Zhou Chenglei moved the fish off the motorcycle. “There’s no need to trouble Zhou Jianxing. I’ve already asked someone else.”

Zhang Aijiao: “…”

Her expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly forced a smile. “You found someone that fast? Who did you hire?”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t answer her. Why did he need to account to her for who he hired?

He parked the motorcycle, walked to the courtyard gate, and pulled it half-shut. “Is there anything else, Aunt?”

Zhang Aijiao: “…”

He was clearly kicking her out!

“Nothing else. I have to go home and cook too.”

Zhang Aijiao stood up, but as she reached the gate, she couldn’t help but say thick-skinnedly, “A-Lei, you’re so capable. Not long after coming back, you’ve bought several boats and hired so many people to work for you. If someone quits later, or if you buy a new boat and need to hire, remember to save a spot for your cousin! I’m putting in a reservation now.”

“I don’t have any position suitable for him here.” Zhou Chenglei closed the courtyard gate without a trace of politeness.

Bang! The gate shut right in her face.

Snubbed and rebuffed, Zhang Aijiao: “…”

She couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

So what if he had some stinking money? What was so great about that?

Zhou Chenglei didn’t bother with her. Paying her any mind was just asking for trouble.

Zhang Aijiao’s son, Zhou Jianxing, was the same age as him; they had attended elementary and middle school together.

Back in school, Zhou Jianxing loved petty thievery and dishonest behavior. When it came time to earn work points, he would pick the easy tasks and avoid the heavy ones, and he frequently stole from the production brigade.

Now that he was married with two sons, he still spent his days idling at home, making his wife go out to work and earn money to support the family.

If Chenglei was going to hire people, he wanted workers, not a pack of trouble.

Moreover, Zhou Chenglei disliked working with relatives.

Hiring relatives brought few benefits but many headaches. Unless it was a specific relative who truly needed looking after or a debt of gratitude to be repaid, he preferred to avoid it.

Accustomed to strict discipline, he prioritized brothers he had trained and fought alongside when it came to hiring.

Once the gate was closed, Jiang Xia asked, “Is that aunt from the family that owes our Great-Grandpa two hundred yuan and won’t pay it back?”

Outside the gate, Zhang Aijiao: “…”

No, how many years ago was that?

And that was a matter from the grandfather’s generation! Do they have such loose lips? Telling even a newly married granddaughter-in-law about things from that generation?

Besides, it was her parents-in-law who owed the money; what did it have to do with them? They didn’t come to collect when the old folks were alive, so what right did they have to ask now that they were gone?

Mother Zhou replied, “That’s the family.”

Jiang Xia said, “With relatives like that, if they won’t pay back the money, we shouldn’t associate with them, let alone hire them! I heard A-Lei say that back then, Grandma was waiting for that money for medical treatment!”

Mother Zhou sighed. “That’s right. Your grandparents were fuming back then! Later, it was your Great-Grandpa’s family and another uncle’s family who lent us the money so A-Lei’s grandmother could get better. How does she have the face to open her mouth to A-Lei? She sat here talking to me for ages, and I actually wondered if she had come to pay us back!”

Mother Zhou remembered how, in order to pay back that borrowed money, Father Zhou would secretly go to the shore at ten o’clock at night to catch fish to sell. For a whole year, he only slept three or four hours a day.

She had also nearly ruined her hands weaving fishing nets before they finally scraped together enough to settle the debt.

That year, Father Zhou had become bone-thin!

Mother Zhou most vividly remembered that Large Yellow Croaker only sold for twenty cents per 500 grams back then.

Zhang Aijiao, who was just about to leave, froze when she heard this. So, if I pay the money back, they’ll hire him?

The other day in the alley, she had overheard Zhou Yongguo and his wife talking in their courtyard. They said something like, “One last distant seas voyage before the New Year to make some money, then we’ll build a house after the holidays.”

How long had the Zhou Yongguo couple been working for Zhou Chenglei? And they already had enough to build a house!

Clearly, the wages Zhou Chenglei paid for distant seas voyages were very high.

Should she pay back those two hundred yuan?

But two hundred yuan was truly a lot; she couldn’t bear to let it go.

Forget it, she’d ask her daughter-in-law if she was willing to cough up the money to pay it back. After all, if the son earned money, the daughter-in-law would be the one benefiting.

Zhang Aijiao stopped agonizing. Either way, she wasn’t providing the money! Two hundred yuan was her entire life savings for her funeral.

After closing the gate, Zhou Chenglei went to the kitchen to pour hot water for Jiang Xia to wash her hair.

When Mother Zhou saw the bounty of Grey Mullet, black tiger prawns, and Spanish mackerel they had brought home, she knew today’s harvest was good. She smiled and asked Jiang Xia, “Are you tired after a day at sea? Does your stomach feel alright?”

Jiang Xia took a basin and a towel, preparing to wash her hair. “I’m fine. I spent most of the time lying down and didn’t do much, so I’m not tired.”

Mother Zhou was relieved to hear that. “If you’re hungry, eat something before you bathe. Don’t bathe on an empty stomach. I’ll go make dinner.”

“Okay, but I’m not hungry. I ate a lot on the boat.”

Zhou Chenglei had brought plenty of dried meat, biscuits, and fruit on board, and she had snacked quite a bit.

Zhou Chenglei carried out a bucket of hot water and said, “Mom, I’ll handle the fish later; I’m going to make fish balls. I’ll help Jiang Xia wash her hair first.”

He set out the water and the lounge chair and began washing Jiang Xia’s hair.

“Alright.” Mother Zhou started measuring out the rice. She asked, “Are your Second Brother’s in-laws coming over for dinner? Do I need to cook rice for them?”

Zhou Ying, Zhou Zhou, and the older boys were still in the fields flying kites, so the Second Brother’s family would definitely be eating at home.

Zhou Chenglei gently massaged Jiang Xia’s scalp. “Probably not.”

Mother Zhou washed the rice while saying, “You still need to hire someone to help with the boat. Xiao Xia can’t go out to sea all the time. Today, when the villagers saw you only took Jiang Xia, several people came to ask me if you were hiring.”

“Just turn them all down. I plan to ask Brother Kangping to help.”

“Kangping?” Mother Zhou nodded. “That’s fine. But isn’t he working in the city?”

Zhou Chenglei said, “Great-Aunt said he’s coming home at the end of the month.”

“Then that’s fine; it’s only a few days away.”

Zhou Kangping was the grandson of the uncle who had lent money for Zhou Chenglei’s grandmother’s medical bills.

He had suffered from polio as a child and lived with the sequelae, which left him with an abnormal gait. He was two years older than Zhou Chenglei and had yet to find a wife.

Last year, while working as a dishwasher in a restaurant in the city, he met a woman. He thought things were going well, but the woman scammed him out of all his money and never returned after going back to her hometown for the New Year.

Zhou Kangping didn’t even know her home address, so the money was naturally gone for good.

Three thousand yuan—money Zhou Kangping had saved over many years, intended for his marriage.

Just then, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Second Sister-in-law entered. Tian Caihua shouted loudly from outside, “Mom, Second Sister-in-law is back to help with dinner! I’m going home now!”

Second Sister-in-law’s face darkened. Did she need Tian Caihua to file a report just because she came back to cook?

Second Sister-in-law looked at Jiang Xia, who was lying comfortably in the courtyard being waited on.

Truly, same people, different fates!

She was covered in the smell of fish and seawater and wanted to wash up too. She asked, “Mom, is there still hot water in the pot? I want to take a bath before I start cooking.”

Why was it that they all came back from sea together, but Jiang Xia got to wash her hair and bathe immediately?

Zhou Chenglei replied, “There isn’t any left. Xiaxia needs the water in the pot. Second Sister-in-law, please wait a bit.”

Jiang Xia’s hair was almost clean; she would be bathing very soon.

Second Sister-in-law sometimes took over an hour to bathe. In an hour and a half, dinner would already be served!

Second Sister-in-law: “…”

How did he have the nerve to say that?

Jiang Xia was only washing her hair, and that already took forever! She couldn’t even use a little hot water to bathe first?

By the time Jiang Xia finished, the next pot of water would have been boiled anyway!

Chapter 371: Wanting a Son

After dinner that evening, Chenglei and A-Sen worked together to process the twenty-some grey mullets, carefully removing the roe.

The mullet roe was a vibrant golden yellow, shaped like pair of joined eggplants.

Preparing mullet roe was a meticulous process. After removal, every blood vessel had to be painstakingly scraped away. If they weren’t cleaned thoroughly, the dried roe would turn black and lose its beautiful color.

Once cleaned, the roe was coated in a thick layer of salt to cure. They were then pressed under wooden boards overnight to squeeze out excess moisture. Tomorrow, the surface salt would be rinsed off, and they would be hung out to dry.

In the house, Mother Zhou was mending fishing nets.

Jiang Xia was teaching English to Zhou Ying and Zhou Zhou.

Jiang Xia had discovered that Zhou Zhou had a remarkably good ear for the language and an excellent memory, so she invited the child to learn alongside Zhou Ying.

She started from the very beginning, teaching only once a week. Since English was not yet a mandatory subject in schools, there was no rush; she felt fostering an interest in the language was the most important thing.

In the courtyard, Li Xiuxian was washing her own and her daughter’s clothes. She cast a sour look at A-Sen. He had the time to help others with their work, yet he wouldn’t even lift a finger to help her with the laundry.

In contrast, Jiang Xia’s clothes were always washed by Chenglei.

A-Sen turned to Chenglei and said, “If my father-in-law and his son aren’t here by six thirty tomorrow, you and Big Brother shouldn’t wait for them. Just head out to sea.”

Chenglei nodded. “Mm.”

Li Xiuxian piped up, “But my dad and brother still aren’t familiar with these waters!”

A-Sen replied, “I’ve already warned them to be early and not to be late.”

Li Xiuxian went silent.

Did he think his warning would actually stop them from being late? Did he think she hadn’t warned them herself?

“They weren’t that late today; they arrived by seven thirty. Fourth Brother, how about we change tomorrow’s departure to seven thirty instead?”

A-Sen shook his head. “No need. I’ve already told them: if they’re late again tomorrow and can’t make it by six thirty, they shouldn’t bother coming at all. It’s the middle of winter, and getting up that early is indeed difficult. I told them we’ll wait until my next day off to take them out to familiarize themselves further. They agreed to it.”

Li Xiuxian was speechless.

Wait until his next day off?

Then why did they buy the boat? To let it sit there as a decoration?

Li Xiuxian was truly exasperated with A-Sen.

Chenglei not only went out to sea every day to make money, but he also stayed up at night doing translation work for extra income. Even Big Brother was out on the water by four o’clock every morning.

How driven those two brothers were! How hard they worked to earn money!

Why was A-Sen so lacking in ambition?

Li Xiuxian glanced into the room, where Zhou Ying was following along as Jiang Xia read English.

Was it because she hadn’t given him a son? Was it because they only had Zhou Ying that he had lost all motivation to strive for more?

After all, in the future, they would only need to provide a dowry for their daughter. Both of them would have pensions later in life, so they didn’t have to worry about who would support them in their old age.

But if they had a son, they would have to consider buying him a house and paying for a wedding. They wouldn’t be able to afford to be so complacent.

Li Xiuxian felt the urge to have a son again.

She looked over at Jiang Xia.

Actually, having another child in secret wasn’t impossible. If she got pregnant now, the baby would be around the same age as Jiang Xia’s children. Once children born in the same year grew for a few months, nobody could tell the difference in their ages.

When the time came, she could register the child’s household registration under Chenglei’s name.

After all, Jiang Xia was expecting multiples—it wouldn’t be a stretch to just claim they were quadruplets.

Li Xiuxian thought the plan was brilliant!

Life really felt incomplete without a son.

Tian Caihua had four sons.

Even if Jiang Xia had three daughters, they would eventually marry out and belong to other families. But if Jiang Xia had three sons, and between all their sons, just one of them became successful, their future would be secure.

Especially with Jiang Xia’s family being so influential—she was likely to be wealthy for the rest of her life.

The more Li Xiuxian thought about it, the more she wanted to try for a son!

That night, when they went to bed, Li Xiuxian told A-Sen about her desire to have a son.

A-Sen asked, “What’s wrong with your brain now?”

She came up with a new scheme every single day!

Was she planning to throw away her job now? Did she really want to rely on fishing for the rest of her life?

She liked the idea of buying a boat and fishing, so fine, she could give up her school job for that. But if they had another child, his own job would be forfeit!

They hadn’t even made much today. After deducting fuel costs and wages, they had only cleared three yuan. Why was she so worked up?

Besides, fishing was at the mercy of the elements. It was normal to work in fits and starts. Who could guarantee they could go out every day? Who could guarantee they would make money every time?

Li Xiuxian explained her plan to him.

A-Sen let out a frustrated laugh. “Put the baby on A-Lei’s household registration? Why not just put it on my parents’ register and have it be my brother instead?”

Li Xiuxian was stunned into silence for a long time before she could recover.

“I’m being serious! Didn’t Xiao Xia want to put Zhou Zhou’s name on their registration before? It’s just a registration; we aren’t asking them to raise the child for us. We wouldn’t be the only ones doing something like this.”

“I’m not doing it. If you want a baby, go find someone else to have one with!” A-Sen had been on the verge of sleep when she woke him up. He rolled over and went back to sleep.

Li Xiuxian was fuming.

What kind of man was he? How could he say such a thing!

Did she want a son only for herself?

The next day, Li’s father and Li Qingmin were late again.

The moment it struck six thirty, Chenglei started the boat and headed out.

Lack of punctuality was one of his greatest pet peeves.

Jiang Xia was pregnant and prone to oversleeping, yet even she could wake up on time. Were these two grown men pregnant with decuplets that they couldn’t manage to crawl out of bed?

When the Li father and son arrived, it was exactly seven o’clock—an improvement over yesterday.

The two men searched the area but couldn’t find the Zhou family’s boat anywhere.

Li Qingmin grumbled, “A-Sen’s brothers are far too cold-hearted. They couldn’t even wait a little while.”

Li’s father sighed. “We can’t blame them. Let’s just be earlier tomorrow.”

A-Sen and his wife happened to be passing by the pier on their way back to town for work when they spotted the two.

A-Sen called out, “Dad, don’t worry about going out for the next few days. Wait until I come back on Sunday.”

Li’s father insisted, “No need, we’ll definitely be earlier tomorrow.”

“Really, there’s no need,” A-Sen explained. “My brothers aren’t going out tomorrow. Besides, they usually head out at four thirty in the morning. You won’t be able to keep up with that.”

He had only managed to convince them to leave as late as six thirty for these past two days to help his father-in-law. Normally, the family left at four thirty.

The period before dawn was when the most fish came out to feed. The same was true for sunset.

Many fish were active at night and hid during the day. Because of this, night fishing often yielded a better harvest. Many fishermen in their village went out at night and slept during the day, using light attraction fishing to lure their catch.

Li’s father and Li Qingmin wanted to take the boat out themselves, but A-Sen wouldn’t allow it.

On the way to work, Li Xiuxian suggested, “How about we hire someone else from the village to go out with my father and brother?”

Letting the boat sit idle was a waste. She had bought it to make money, not for it to be a lawn ornament.

“We could. Who do you have in mind?”

“What about Great-Grandpa? Hasn’t he finished helping Fourth Brother build his house now?”

“That could work. I’ll ask him later.” Great-Grandpa was reliable.

“Then let’s go back to the village tonight and ask him.”

Chapter 372: No Time

She didn’t even need to head back to the village to look for Great-Grandpa that evening; Li Xiuxian ran into him right there at the school.

She hurried forward with a happy expression. “Great-Grandpa, what brings you to the school?”

Great-Grandpa chuckled and pointed toward a particular classroom. “I’ve got things to do.”

Li Xiuxian assumed he was there to help the school with maintenance, like fixing roof leaks or repairing doors and windows.

Since the current school buildings were all single-story bungalows, the school would hire people every year during winter and summer breaks to patch up the roofs.

Although winter break hadn’t started yet, the classroom Great-Grandpa was pointing at was currently vacant. It was also quite far from the regular teaching blocks, so he wouldn’t disturb the students’ lessons.

She figured the school probably wanted it repaired for some specific purpose.

She smiled and said, “Great-Grandpa, my family bought a new ship. We were hoping to hire you to go out to sea with us…”

Upon hearing this, Great-Grandpa waved his hand dismissively. “I don’t have time! I’m here at the school…”

Li Xiuxian interrupted, “That’s fine. You can help me after you’re finished with the school’s work.”

Patching a roof usually only took a few days.

Great-Grandpa laughed and shook his head again. “I really don’t have time. I’ve rented a classroom from your school to open a convenience store!”

Li Xiuxian was stunned for a moment. “Open a convenience store? Was this Xiao Xia’s idea?”

Great-Grandpa beamed. “Exactly! It’s all thanks to Xiao Xia for showing me a path to wealth.”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

“Great-Grandpa, do you really believe opening a convenience store in a school will make money? Where would children get money from?”

Great-Grandpa took it as a given. “Of course! Why else would I open it? Children are the primary customers for a convenience store. Their parents will always give them two cents here or there to spend.”

He hadn’t possessed any grand talents in his life, but after living for decades, he had summarized one piece of experience: if you follow capable people, you won’t do too poorly; if you follow the right person, you can’t go wrong!

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Why did so many people believe whatever Jiang Xia said?

Just then, the school bell rang. Great-Grandpa said, “Quick, get to class! I’m going to go clear out that room.”

Great-Grandpa walked away, full of energy.

Jiang Xia hadn’t just pointed him toward a way to make money; she had even asked her father to hire a lawyer to help him sign a contract with the school.

Because he was paying rent, giving the school a twenty percent share of the dividends, and promising to fix the school’s roof leaks for free during winter and summer breaks, the principal had signed a twenty-year contract with him.

He had originally thought ten years would be the maximum, but he hadn’t expected to get twenty.

From now until the day he kicked the bucket, he wouldn’t have to worry about being out of work.

In addition to renting the classroom inside the school, he had also spent a thousand yuan to buy a dilapidated single-story shack near the school gate. Once he had more money, he would tear it down and build a proper storefront.

That way, even if the school stopped his lease, he would have his own shop outside. Either way, he could keep the business going.

Li Xiuxian watched Great-Grandpa hurry toward the vacant classroom and pursed her lips. Opening a convenience store? Isn’t he afraid of losing everything down to his underwear?

But wait, did Great-Grandpa’s family even have the money to open a convenience store?

Did Jiang Xia lend it to them, or was even Great-Grandpa’s family wealthier than hers now?

The former made Li Xiuxian angry, while the latter made her feel suffocated with frustration.

In short, no matter how she thought about it, she felt miserable.

It was another bright and sunny day.

Jiang Xia and her husband started their trip out to sea at half-past six. After sailing for an hour and a half, they began using the trawl net.

They hauled the net in roughly every hour.

By noon, Jiang Xia and Chenglei had already brought in three hauls.

Each haul was about 150 to 200 kilograms.

Today’s catch consisted mostly of small fish; they hadn’t encountered any large schools.

Furthermore, all three hauls were common species they had seen before: seabass, golden threadfin, seabream, sole, spiny-back fish, lizardfish, filefish, barracuda, Spanish mackerel, and so on.

It was a very mixed bag; they had a bit of everything!

The three hauls totaled about 500 kg of fish, which could be sold for around seventy or eighty yuan.

Today’s harvest was a bit light, but it was impossible to make a fortune every single day.

Jiang Xia sat at the helm, steering the boat.

Chenglei was busy sorting the fish.

Even with Chenglei’s quick movements, after sorting for a long time, there was still a massive pile left.

The varieties were just too mixed!

Species like spiny-back fish and rabbitfish were smaller than Jiang Xia’s palm. They were mixed into the pile of miscellaneous fish, making the sorting process exhausting.

Anyone with a little less patience would have been tempted to dump the whole lot back into the sea and cast the net again!

But Chenglei did not lack patience, and his temperament was stable.

Jiang Xia watched him working deftly, first picking out the larger fish and those with smaller quantities.

Now, almost all that remained were the spiny-backs, rabbitfish, and shrimp.

Since it was noon and he was worried Jiang Xia might be hungry, he washed his hands and steered the boat toward the shore of Abalone Island.

Once the boat was secured, he jumped off to pry some oysters.

Jiang Xia loved them, and it had been a while since she last had any.

Chenglei returned with a container of oysters and prepared to use the coal stove to cook seafood noodles on the boat.

Small Brother also sailed over.

Chenglei waited for their boats to pull alongside each other before starting the noodles; otherwise, the boat would be too rocky.

Once the two boats were tied together, Tian Caihua immediately jumped over to their side. Seeing the deck full of fish, she said enviously, “You two caught this much in just one morning!”

She turned back to glare at Zhou Chengxin. She had told him to follow Jiang Xia and the others out to sea, but he still wouldn’t listen!

Jiang Xia had already sat down to help sort the fish. “It’s okay, just a lot of common small fish.”

Chenglei boiled the noodles and asked Tian Caihua, “Sister-in-law, have you eaten? I’m making noodles; do you want some?”

“I’ve eaten, but go ahead and make an extra bowl for me and your brother anyway! It’s good to eat something hot to warm the body,” Tian Caihua said as she sat down next to Jiang Xia to help sort the fish.

Chenglei didn’t give a verbal reply, but he grabbed an extra squid, several shrimp, and a few baby cuttlefish for the pot.

From the adjacent boat, Zhou Chengxin called out to Chenglei, “Have you fed the fish yet?”

Chenglei replied, “Not yet.”

Hearing this, Zhou Chengxin said, “Then I’ll go do it!”

“No need,” Chenglei said. “I’ll go in a bit. Come over and help me sort these fish first! In a while, the two of us will go into the water to pry some scallops to take back. I found a spot yesterday with quite a lot of them.”

“Alright!” Zhou Chengxin dropped his anchor and jumped over to help with the sorting.

With three people working, the speed increased significantly.

By the time the noodles were ready, they were nearly finished sorting.

Chenglei handed a large enamel bowl of noodle soup to Jiang Xia. It was topped with two poached eggs, two stalks of green vegetables, and a layer of seafood that covered the entire surface. Even the shrimp had been peeled for her.

Tian Caihua held her bowl and took a sip of the hot broth, feeling instantly comforted. “You two really know how to live a proper life. You aren’t even afraid of the extra trouble.”

She usually just brought a lunch box filled with rice and warmed it up with hot water.

Chenglei didn’t say anything. There were only three meals a day; what was the trouble?

Jiang Xia was eating much more than before. Everything tasted delicious to her, and her appetite was particularly strong.

She finished the entire large bowl of noodles, whereas before she could only manage half.

Of course, in the past, she would finish the seafood and only leave half the noodles. She was the type who ate more side dishes and fewer staples.

Chenglei asked her, “Do you want more?”

Jiang Xia inwardly wanted more, but she shook her head. “I’m full. My stomach can’t fit any more.”

Chenglei saw her lingering craving and held a plump, juicy oyster to her lips. “One more bite?”

Jiang Xia bit into it decisively.

Fresh!

Sweet!

Tian Caihua remarked, “I bet the child in your belly is a boy. I was just like that back then—I could eat anything, and everything tasted great.”

Jiang Xia simply smiled.

After they finished eating, Chenglei washed the bowls and then carried Jiang Xia down to the beach. He brought the lounge chair down as well so she could lie down if she felt tired.

Then, he and Zhou Chengxin set off on the boat to feed the fish.

Tian Caihua stayed on the beach to keep Jiang Xia company.

Chapter 373: Eating Meat, Drinking Soup

Jiang Xia walked along the beach, and soon the two of them discovered many snail eyes. Some were even partially exposed.

They both began picking them up, lost in the joy of the task.

There were quite a few sea snails on the beach today; it was unclear when they had appeared.

Tian Caihua said with a smile, “This kind of sea snail has thick meat and tastes great. Although they sell for cheap, a single snail can weigh several hundred grams! If we pick enough, we can make a good amount of money.”

Jiang Xia smiled and agreed.

Each of these snails was about the size of an egg, and some were nearly as large as Jiang Xia’s fist. Snails like these definitely had a lot of meat.

Jiang Xia dragged her woven sack along, bending over to dig up snails as she moved forward.

There really were a lot of them, and the two women were having a wonderful time.

Tian Caihua sighed, “If only these were gold, I wouldn’t have to worry for the rest of my life.”

Whenever Jiang Xia went out to sea, she either found coral or jade. Could she, Tian Caihua, be allowed to find something similar just once?

Tian Caihua silently called out to the 108 Lords in her heart, praying for their blessing.

Jiang Xia chuckled. “Even though these snails aren’t gold, if we happen to find one with a pearl inside, it would be as good as gold.”

Tian Caihua replied, “I wish! But this kind of snail doesn’t produce pearls.”

As she spoke, Tian Caihua spotted half of a brown shell poking out. She thrust her shovel down and dug up a snail—along with half a gold bar!

Tian Caihua’s eyes widened. She quickly knelt, carefully brushed away the surrounding sand, and picked it up. Her voice trembled. “Xiao Xia, I think I really found gold!”

Was praying today really this effective?

Jiang Xia looked back and saw her holding a gold bar. It certainly looked like one.

She turned and walked over.

“I don’t know if it’s real!” The gold bar was covered in sand. Tian Caihua wiped it haphazardly on her clothes and then gave it a light bite.

She looked at Jiang Xia with a face full of surprise. “It’s a bit soft! Do you think it’s the real deal?”

Tian Caihua handed the gold bar to Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia took it and saw the name of a very famous jewelry store from Hong Kong stamped on it, along with the “999” purity mark.

“It should be real, though I’m no expert.”

Tian Caihua laughed. “I think it’s real too! Haha… it’s finally my turn to get rich!”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Sister-in-law, your mouth must have been blessed today. You said you’d find gold, and you actually did!”

Tian Caihua felt lucky for the first time in her life!

Thank goodness she had insisted that Zhou Chengxin come here to follow Jiang Xia!

“About how much is this gold bar worth? Do you know? I heard the price of gold dropped recently.”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Yeah, it was over forty yuan in September. When I went to the jewelry store last time, I heard it had dropped to around thirty-two yuan. But gold prices change all the time, so I don’t know how much it is per gram right now. Currently, individuals aren’t really supposed to keep private hoards of gold, so you should hide it well and don’t try to sell it just yet. Wait until it’s officially allowed and the price goes up. Gold holds its value; if you aren’t desperate for money, it’s good to just keep it.”

Tian Caihua calculated, “Around thirty-two yuan a gram… Xiao Xia, help me figure out how much this piece is worth.”

Jiang Xia replied, “This piece is a hundred grams, so that would be around three thousand two hundred yuan.”

Three thousand two hundred!

She hit the jackpot!

She really hit the jackpot!

Tian Caihua laughed until tears came to her eyes. “Let’s keep looking! Maybe there’s more!”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Maybe there really is. Someone who collects these kinds of gold bars usually wouldn’t have just one.”

In reality, these gold bars were likely hidden in the sea by the pirate leader mentioned in the original novel; she just didn’t know how they had washed ashore.

Regardless, there should be more than one.

And so, their task shifted from picking up sea snails to searching for gold bars.

However, Jiang Xia still focused primarily on the snails. Finding gold bars was just a matter of “if it happens, it happens.”

After all, sea snails could be seen with the naked eye, while gold bars were purely down to luck.

She was afraid that even if she dug three feet into the beach, she might not have that kind of luck. It was better to stay practical and keep picking snails.

Even if the snails weren’t worth much, they would still make for a good meal.

Tian Caihua was different. She genuinely felt like digging up the entire beach.

She had already dug a massive hole where she had found the first bar.

After a while, Chenglei and Zhou Chengxin returned with the boat.

Jiang Xia had already filled two bags with sea snails.

Chenglei jumped off the boat.

Jiang Xia pointed at the two woven sacks. “I picked these snails. Help me move them to the boat.”

“Okay,” Chenglei answered. “I’ll move the lounge chair onto the boat first.”

Jiang Xia let him proceed.

Chenglei picked up the lounge chair and handed it to Zhou Chengxin.

Zhou Chengxin took it, placed it on the boat, and shouted to Tian Caihua, “Ah Hua, let’s go! We need to continue with the trawl net! What are you digging for?”

Tian Caihua had been searching for a long time without finding a second bar, and she didn’t want to leave the island so soon.

She ran to the side of the boat and held up the gold bar for Zhou Chengxin to see. “Don’t leave yet! Look at what I found!”

Zhou Chengxin was stunned for a moment. “Is it fake?”

Tian Caihua rolled her eyes at him. “Bah! You’re the one who’s fake! Xiao Xia said it’s real! Get down here and help me look! One piece is worth over three thousand! Isn’t that better than trawling?”

Seeing that she had dug holes all over the place with clearly nothing to show for it, Zhou Chengxin refused. “I’m not looking. If you want to look, stay here yourself. We’re going to trawl; I’ll come back to pick you up later.”

Tian Caihua agreed. “Fine! Go trawl! I’m going to keep looking here. What about you, Xiao Xia?”

Jiang Xia replied, “I’m not looking anymore.”

She had been picking snails for over an hour and was a bit tired; she needed to go back to the boat to rest.

After moving the lounge chair, Chenglei went to lift the two bags of snails Jiang Xia had collected.

The two bags were in different spots. He went to the further one first, then walked back to the closer one.

As he lifted the second bag, the woven sack got snagged on something.

Chenglei pulled but couldn’t free it. Fearing he would tear the sack, he crouched down.

Jiang Xia walked over and tossed the few snails she was holding into the bag. “Is it stuck? I was dragging it along just now. Is it torn? Do we need to change the bag?”

“There’s a small hole, no need to change it.” Chenglei pulled the sack free.

He realized that what had caught the bag was something resembling a handle.

This kind of handle was very uncommon.

Chenglei said to Jiang Xia, “Give me the shovel.”

Jiang Xia handed it to him.

Chenglei dug for a while and discovered it was indeed the handle of a chest.

One of the screws on the handle had come loose and was sticking out above the sand, which is how it had snagged the bag.

Once he had dug enough, he gripped the handle and gave it a hard tug, pulling a chest out of the sand.

As it came out, a pile of small gold bars spilled out with it.

Jiang Xia: “…”

Tian Caihua: “…”

She had dug so many holes and found nothing! And yet, the treasure was right under Jiang Xia’s bag of snails?!!!

“Xiao Xia, your luck is still the best!”

Other people had to search, but for her, things just delivered themselves to her door!

Thankfully she had followed them. Jiang Xia was eating the meat, while she finally got to drink a bit of the soup!

And she wanted another bowl.

Tian Caihua hurriedly started digging nearby again.

They always said the sea was full of treasures. In the past, landlords and such had hidden their valuables at the bottom of the ocean.

So many years had passed, and with typhoons every year, there was no telling what might have been washed ashore.

Chapter 374: Sincerity Moves Metal and Stone

“Big Brother, throw down a few lunch boxes,” Chenglei called out to Zhou Chengxin.

Zhou Chengxin quickly packed four aluminum lunch boxes into a woven sack and tossed them down.

He jumped off the boat himself and walked over, carrying the lunch boxes. Looking at the small pile of gold bars on the ground, he had a look of pure disbelief. “Did you really pick up gold?”

Tian Caihua rolled her eyes at him. “Is there a fake version of this? Hurry up and look to see if there’s any more!”

Zhou Chengxin glanced around. How was he supposed to look? He didn’t have X-ray vision.

The gold bars in the box varied in size; many were small bars weighing 10 or 30 grams. There were also three 100-gram bars like the one Tian Caihua had found. Additionally, there was a single 500-gram gold brick.

Jiang Xia placed the fallen gold bars back into the box. It wasn’t full, only reaching about halfway. Altogether, they had 1,200 grams of gold.

Tian Caihua looked at the haul, her heart filled with envy. Intense, overwhelming envy!

Ugh, if Jiang Xia’s woven sack hadn’t been sitting right there, I definitely would have dug in that spot!

Jiang Xia remarked, “There are probably still some scattered around that we haven’t found.”

They could be on the seabed or buried in the sand. Regardless, finding them would be extremely difficult. Hearing this, Tian Caihua began to dig even more vigorously.

Jiang Xia and Chenglei neatly arranged all the small gold bars into the four aluminum lunch boxes. Only the larger gold brick remained. Chenglei wrapped the gold brick in a woven sack and hid it inside a large conch shell.

They took the four lunch boxes back to the boat and placed them in a handbasket, just like they would with an ordinary meal.

Zhou Chengxin searched for a while but found nothing. Seeing that Chenglei and Jiang Xia were finished packing, he said, “Let’s go! It’s all sand—how can we find anything? If you have the luck, maybe you’ll stumble upon more next time you come.”

“Next time, next time! Everything is always ‘next time’ with you!” Tian Caihua snapped. “I already dug up one piece today; why wouldn’t my luck hold? Do you think good fortune just happens every day?”

She felt her luck with gold was strong today. Who knew if she’d have it tomorrow?

Ignoring her, Zhou Chengxin climbed onto Chenglei’s boat first to help pull their things up. Chenglei handed him the bag of conches, followed by the bag of conches Tian Caihua had collected.

Finally, Chenglei went to help Jiang Xia onto the boat. To make it easier for her to climb up, he crouched down and let her sit on his shoulders.

Jiang Xia hesitated. “Just lift me up with your hands. I can climb up myself once I reach the edge.”

“This is steadier. You can just step on my shoulders to get up,” he insisted.

“No need, just lift me high and I’ll climb over.”

Chenglei remained basic, watching her without moving. Jiang Xia had no choice but to sit on his shoulders.

As Chenglei gripped her legs and stood up steadily, Jiang Xia’s heart leaped into her throat. She instinctively wanted to grab his hair for balance, but it was cut too short. However, he was very stable; his gait was firm as he walked, allowing Jiang Xia to finally relax.

Seeing this, Tian Caihua called out, “Zhou Chengxin, help me onto the boat like that in a minute.”

Zhou Chengxin glanced at Tian Caihua’s rounded waist. “As long as you aren’t afraid of me snapping my spine, I have no problem with it.”

Tian Caihua remembered stepping on the scale a couple of days ago—over 65 kilograms. She was nearly as heavy as the big fat pigs they kept at home. She glanced at Jiang Xia’s waist and legs; she felt like two of Jiang Xia’s waists wouldn’t even be as thick as one of hers. Besides, Zhou Chengxin didn’t have nearly as much strength as Chenglei.

Forget it! Zhou Chengxin is useless! Men can’t be relied upon; I’d better just look for gold!

Chenglei walked to the side of the boat. Jiang Xia reached up to grab the railing. Chenglei supported the soles of her shoes, providing a foothold. “If it’s not high enough, step on my shoulders.”

“It’s enough.” Jiang Xia stepped onto Chenglei’s palms. With his upward boost, she climbed onto the boat with ease.

Zhou Chengxin hovered nearby, ready to pull Jiang Xia up if she slipped. Seeing her safely aboard, he turned to Tian Caihua. “Are you coming or what?”

“What’s the rush?” Tian Caihua barked back. “Can’t you wait a moment?”

She gave her shovel one last vigorous sweep through the sand, intending to give up if she found nothing and try again after the next typhoon. Perhaps sincerity really did move metal and stone, because at that very last second, she hit something.

“I found it! I found it!”

Zhou Chengxin: “…”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Big Sister-in-law’s luck really is amazing today.”

“I’m only lucky because I followed you guys!” Tian Caihua hurried to the side of the boat and handed two gold bars to Zhou Chengxin. “Put these away carefully, then pull me up.”

Tian Caihua didn’t dare climb with the gold bars in her pocket. The waves were strong; if she fell into the sea and the gold was washed away or buried in the sand, she would cry! No, crying wouldn’t solve anything—she’d make Zhou Chengxin pay her back!

Once Tian Caihua was on board, the two boats set off.

Jiang Xia looked at the crates of scallops. “These scallops are so plump! Let’s take a few back tonight and steam them with vermicelli.”

“I’ve already set a bucket aside.”

Jiang Xia looked into the bucket. Chenglei had kept the largest, fattest scallops, along with several large abalones. Most fishermen would sell their best catch to make money, keeping only the small, poor-quality, or unsellable items for themselves.

Vegetable farmers were the same. When Jiang Xia sold vegetables as a child in her past life, she mostly ate the leftovers that couldn’t be sold or were starting to rot. But Chenglei wasn’t like that. Whenever they had fresh seafood, he always picked the very best to bring home.

“Tonight’s dinner will be a feast.” There were conches, scallops, abalones, and several large oysters.

“Mhm. What kind of fish do you want? I’ll save one later.”

Jiang Xia asked, “Are we going to trawl another net?”

“Yes, we’ll trawl a net on the way back.”

“Then let’s see what we get in this net first.”

“Alright. Why don’t you take a nap?”

“Okay.” Jiang Xia settled onto the lounge chair for a nap.

After driving the boat a certain distance, Chenglei dropped the net and continued the journey home. Jiang Xia slept soundly on the return trip. By the time she woke up, it was time to pull in the net.

Jiang Xia took the wheel while Chenglei pulled the net in. A large haul of fish was hauled up just as they approached the village pier. Chenglei went over to supervise Jiang Xia as she docked. This time, she barely needed any guidance; she pulled the boat in perfectly, right alongside the first branch’s boat. All three Zhou family boats were now docked together.

Seeing the huge haul of fish on Jiang Xia’s boat, Tian Caihua wasn’t surprised that their single net had yielded more than hers.

Tian Caihua hopped onto Jiang Xia’s boat. “Xiao Xia, how does your family pray to the gods?” She felt she needed to learn their secret!

Jiang Xia replied, “That… isn’t it the same everywhere? My mother usually handles those things; I haven’t really paid attention.”

Tian Caihua figured Jiang Xia wouldn’t know much about that and didn’t press further. “Xiao Xia, are you going straight home? I’ll catch a ride on your motorcycle.”

She needed to get home and hide her gold bars before they went missing.

Chenglei spoke up immediately. “I’ll take your things home for you, Sister-in-law. You should walk. The motorcycle can’t carry that many people.”

Tian Caihua nodded. “Fine. You take that bag of conches back for me then. I won’t head back yet; I’ll just use the restroom at the production team office.”

“Alright.”

Mother Zhou boarded the boat then. Seeing the crates of fish and the large, unemptied net—which contained several prized Large Yellow Croakers—she smiled. “Today’s harvest is excellent!”

Then she turned to Chenglei. “A-Lei, someone called for you at noon. Here is the number they left.”

Chenglei took the slip of paper. One glance at the number and he knew who it was. He emptied the large bag of fish and said to Mother Zhou, “Mom, I’m going to return this call and take Xiao Xia home first. Why don’t you hire a couple of people to help sort the fish?”

Chapter 375: The Best Choice

After Chenglei finished giving instructions to Mother Zhou, he turned to Zhou Chengxin and said, “Big Brother, help me move this bucket of scallops off the boat in a moment. I’ll take them back with me.”

“Sure thing!”

Holding a hand basket in one hand and a bag of sea snails in the other, Chenglei led Jiang Xia off the boat and toward the production team office.

Jiang Xia said to him, “Go ahead and return the call. I’ll wait for you here.”

Chenglei set the basket and the bag of sea snails on the ground. “Wait on the motorcycle.”

“Got it.”

Chenglei hurried inside to make the call.

Zhou Chengxin soon followed, placing another bag of sea snails and a bucket of large abalone and scallops in front of Jiang Xia. “I’ll have to trouble you with these, Xiao Xia.”

“Don’t mention it, Big Brother.”

After dropping off the items, Zhou Chengxin hurried back to the boat to finish sorting the fish.

Jiang Xia sat on the motorcycle, keeping an eye on the seafood while waiting for Chenglei.

After a short while, a woman wearing a checkered jacket rode past on a bicycle. Seeing the exceptionally large abalone and scallops in the bucket, she stopped in front of Jiang Xia and asked, “Are these abalone and scallops for sale? How much are they?”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “They aren’t for sale. We’re taking them home to eat.”

Taking such high-quality abalone and scallops home just to eat?

The woman couldn’t help but look Jiang Xia over. She realized then that Jiang Xia was strikingly beautiful. Although she was wearing waterproof boots and looked like she had just returned from the sea, the fabric of her clothes was of very high quality.

This woman… she didn’t recognize her.

Which family had married such a beautiful daughter-in-law?

Curious, she asked, “Which family do you belong to? You must be a new bride.”

Jiang Xia didn’t recognize her either, so assuming she was a local villager, she replied, “My husband is Chenglei.”

He Xiuhui: “…”

Just then, Chenglei walked out of the office.

When He Xiuhui turned and saw Chenglei, her expression changed instantly. She hurriedly pedaled away on her bicycle without another word.

Jiang Xia: “…”

She watched the woman’s retreating back, then looked at Chenglei. “Who was that?”

Why did she act like she’d seen a ghost the moment she saw him?

Chenglei walked over to her. “That was Zhou Zhou’s biological mother. What did she say to you?”

“…” Jiang Xia couldn’t help but look back at the figure disappearing in the distance.

So that was Zhou Zhou’s biological mother?

Zhou Zhou probably took after her father more, but her silhouette did look a bit like that woman’s.

Judging by her clothes and appearance, her situation after remarrying seemed to be quite decent.

“She didn’t say much. She just asked if the abalone were for sale. Do you think she came back to take Zhou Zhou away?”

In the original story, it was mentioned that she never returned to see her daughter after remarrying. Had she returned now with the intention of taking Zhou Zhou?

“Unlikely. Her parents’ home is in the neighboring village, so she’s probably just visiting family. If she wanted to take Zhou Zhou, she wouldn’t have run away the moment she saw me.”

“That’s true.” Jiang Xia realized she had been too influenced by the original plot, thinking the woman was planning to take the child earlier than expected.

Chenglei didn’t say anything more. He helped Jiang Xia off the motorcycle and checked the bags of sea snails, tightening the knots before loading them onto the bike. He wedged the bags in the front and hung the bucket of scallops and the basket of food containers on the handlebars, one on each side.

He helped Jiang Xia onto the back seat, then climbed on himself and drove off.

Having run into the Zhou family at the pier, He Xiuhui no longer felt like buying seafood. She fled Xiaoyucun in a hurry.

Usually, when she visited her parents’ village, she would leave by two o’clock to ensure she never encountered anyone from the Zhou family at the pier.

She had thought that since it was only past four o’clock, the Zhou family’s boat wouldn’t be back so early.

Furthermore, she hadn’t intended to linger at the pier. She had only happened to see those massive abalone and scallops and wanted to buy some for her stepson.

She never expected to run into the Zhou family! And to practically walk right into them!

She was somewhat afraid of meeting them. She was afraid of seeing her daughter, afraid the girl would want to leave with her, and equally afraid that the Zhou family would demand she take Zhou Zhou away.

He Xiuhui did want to see her daughter, but she feared the heartache that would come with it.

She knew from her parents that Zhou Zhou was doing very well.

Currently, Zhou Zhou was living with her grandparents and Chenglei’s couple.

Chenglei had bought several boats, and their life was exceptionally prosperous.

Thinking back to what Chenglei’s wife had said about those premium ingredients being for their own consumption, it was clear their life was indeed very good.

That was enough. Since Zhou Zhou was doing well, that was all that mattered.

The man she had remarried already had a son, and he had made it clear before the wedding that he didn’t want to raise someone else’s child.

Moreover, her current parents-in-law were not as kind as Father and Mother Zhou. If she brought Zhou Zhou over, she wouldn’t be able to care for her during the day while she worked. Zhou Zhou would be left with her mother-in-law, who likely wouldn’t treat the girl well.

It had been four years since she remarried, and she still hadn’t conceived a child. She hadn’t yet gained a firm foothold in the Tan family, and her mother-in-law treated her with cold, sour looks. She was already walking on eggshells herself; how could she possibly bring Zhou Zhou along?

Therefore, staying with the Zhou family was the best choice for Zhou Zhou.

Following her wouldn’t be better than staying there.

He Xiuhui pedaled her bicycle quickly through the countryside.

On the fields where the rice had already been harvested, a group of children carrying school bags were running home after school.

Suddenly, she heard someone shout, “Zhou Zhou! In a bit, let’s go to the fields to graze the geese and roast sweet potatoes. We’ll dig some up from the patch. Remember to bring your kite and badminton rackets!”

He Xiuhui instinctively looked over.

She immediately spotted a little girl wearing a brand-new red pinafore dress over a white sweater. Her hair was tied in two ponytails with red floral hair ties.

That was Zhou Zhou!

She quickly retracted her gaze, turned her head away, and pedaled even faster.

Zhou Zhou chirped back happily, “Okay! I’ll bring some chestnuts to roast too. Roasted chestnuts are delicious!”

The last time her Uncle roasted a plate of chestnuts for her and her Auntie, they were so tasty!

Zhou Zhou only wanted to get home quickly; she didn’t pay any attention to who else was on the road.

Only after He Xiuhui had pedaled a long distance away did she look back once more at that small, red figure.

By the time Jiang Xia and Chenglei arrived home and finished hiding the gold in their room, Zhou Zhou had returned.

As soon as Zhou Zhou entered the courtyard and saw the motorcycle, she knew her Auntie and Uncle were home.

She called out, “Uncle, Auntie, Grandma!”

Jiang Xia walked out of the room. “Home from school, Zhou Zhou?”

Zhou Zhou said, “Auntie, I finished my homework at school. I want to go to the fields with Third Brother, Zhou Jie, and Binghua to roast sweet potatoes and chestnuts. I’ll bring some back for you once they’re done.”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Alright, go ahead! It just so happens I brought back some sea snails today. Take some with you to roast.”

“Okay!” After saying that, Zhou Zhou ran to her room to drop off her school bag.

Jiang Xia went to get a basket to pack some snails for her.

Jiang Xia figured that given the timing, Zhou Zhou might have crossed paths with He Xiuhui, but she didn’t dare ask.

However, seeing Zhou Zhou’s bright, sunny smile, it seemed they probably hadn’t met. Or perhaps even if they had, Zhou Zhou didn’t recognize her. After all, Zhou Zhou had only been three years old back then; she likely had no memory of her mother at all.

Chapter 376: A Visit

Zhou Zhou took the basket of sea snails and chestnuts Jiang Xia had prepared for her and ran out.

She didn’t take any sweet potatoes, as they preferred to scavenge for “missed treasures” in the fields after the harvest was over, digging them up to roast on the spot.

After Zhou Zhou left to play, Zhou Chenglei washed Jiang Xia’s hair for her.

While Jiang Xia went to take a bath after her hair was washed, he began washing the vegetables and started steaming the rice. He made enough to include a portion for Big Brother’s family as well.

Big Brother and his family were coming over later to collect their gold bars. Since they had also helped distribute the fish today, it was only natural to have them stay for dinner.

By the time Jiang Xia finished her bath and came out, he had already cleaned the sea snails, scallops, abalone, and other seafood. He had also soaked the vermicelli and prepared the minced garlic; everything would be ready to steam as soon as he returned.

As for the other dishes, Mother Zhou had already sliced a plate of cured meat and washed a basket of pea pods and pea shoots.

He planned to bring back a Large Yellow Croaker from the pier to steam, which would be more than enough for the meal.

Zhou Chenglei said to Jiang Xia, “Xiaxia, I’m going to the pier to see if the fish have been sorted. I’ll steam the seafood as soon as I get back, and then we can eat. Don’t dry your hair out in the courtyard; the wind is too strong. Go inside and put on an extra layer of clothes.”

Jiang Xia gave a nod of agreement, and only then did Zhou Chenglei ride his motorcycle toward the pier.

Not long after he left, Jiang Xia glanced at the time; it was five-thirty.

She planned to start cooking in another fifteen minutes.

Jiang Xia closed the courtyard gate and went back to her room to translate while waiting for her hair to dry.

She hadn’t even finished translating a single page when she heard a knock at the gate. “Xiao Xia! Xiao Xia, are you home?”

Jiang Xia capped her fountain pen, walked out, and opened the gate.

Standing there was Feng Xuexing, the eldest daughter-in-law of their neighbor, Pan Daidi.

Feng Xuexing said with a smile, “Xiao Xia, I brought back a bag of jicama from my mother’s house today. I wanted to give you two a couple to try; my mother grew them, and they’re very sweet.”

Jiang Xia looked at the two jicamas in her hand, which were about the size of coconuts, and smiled. “Thank you, but I’m not just being polite—we actually have a large bag of them ourselves. I’m afraid we won’t be able to finish them all before they go to waste. Look, aren’t there two sitting right there on the kitchen windowsill? And there’s a whole bag inside.”

Jiang Xia pointed toward the kitchen window.

Feng Xuexing took a look and saw that it was true.

She chuckled. “I didn’t realize your family had them too. Did Mother Zhou grow them? She’s the best at gardening in the whole village.”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Someone else gave them to us.”

Mother Zhou was indeed skilled at gardening; her vegetables always grew well and were usually ready to harvest several days before anyone else’s in the village.

However, she hadn’t planted jicama this year, though she had planted kudzu root.

Jiang Xia had heard Mother Zhou mention a few days ago that she would dig up the kudzu in a few days to make some kudzu powder.

The jicama had been brought over by one of Zhou Chenglei’s old comrades—two large bags of them. One and a half bags had been taken onto the ship, and they had only kept half a bag at home.

Since her gift was rejected, Feng Xuexing found it a bit difficult to bring up her true purpose.

Jiang Xia saw her hesitation and, having no time to waste, asked directly, “Is there something else?”

The relationship between the two families had long since soured, but Feng Xuexing wasn’t like Pan Daidi, and her husband wasn’t like Zhou Junjie.

Whenever they met outside, the couple would always take the initiative to greet Jiang Xia’s family. They maintained at least a veneer of harmony.

But because of Pan Daidi and Zhou Junjie, the relationship between the two households was destined never to be truly good.

Feng Xuexing had been hesitating for many days before finally coming to the door. She gritted her teeth and stated her intent: “Your family bought two new ships, right? Do you need to hire anyone? My husband happens to be free. Don’t worry, my husband isn’t like my brother-in-law. Uncle Yongfu and Aunt Yongfu also know that my husband is quite steady and hardworking. Back when we were in the production team, he used to operate the boats and go out to sea with Uncle Yongfu.”

Though Zhou Junwen’s character seemed steady enough and lacked Zhou Junjie’s flamboyance, Pan Daidi was due to be released soon.

Jiang Xia didn’t want to go looking for trouble, so she declined with a smile. “I know both of you are hardworking and capable people, but we’ve already hired everyone we need.”

Feng Xuexing couldn’t hide her disappointment. “You’ve already hired everyone?”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Yes, we have. Why don’t you have a seat? I need to go start the fire and get the food steaming.”

Hearing this, Feng Xuexing hurriedly said, “No, I won’t stay. I need to go back and cook dinner too. I’ll be going now.”

She still placed the two jicamas on the well cover. “Just try them and see if the ones my mother grew are sweet.”

As Feng Xuexing turned to leave the courtyard, she saw Li Xiuxian pushing a bicycle inside.

Feng Xuexing greeted her, “Teacher Li, you’re back.”

When Li Xiuxian used to teach at the village primary school, she had been Feng Xuexing’s son’s teacher.

Li Xiuxian smiled and acknowledged the greeting.

Zhou Ying happily greeted Jiang Xia, “Auntie! Where’s Zhou Zhou?”

Jiang Xia didn’t understand why Li Xiuxian was back again, but she replied with a smile, “Zhou Zhou went to the fields with her brothers to roast sweet potatoes.”

Zhou Ying immediately hopped off the bicycle. “I’m going too!”

Then she ran off.

Li Xiuxian called out a warning: “Be careful! Don’t get your clothes dirty!”

“I know!”

Jiang Xia greeted Li Xiuxian, “Second Sister-in-law, where’s Second Brother?”

Li Xiuxian explained, “He didn’t come back; he has a dinner appointment tonight. I came back because I wanted to find someone in the village to go out to sea with my father and the others.”

Feng Xuexing, who was already halfway out of the courtyard, immediately turned back upon hearing this. “Teacher Li, are you planning to hire someone to go fishing?”

Li Xiuxian replied, “That’s right!”

Feng Xuexing said, “My husband happens to be free. Teacher Li, you know Junwen is a very hardworking and honest man.”

Li Xiuxian certainly knew Zhou Junwen; after all, she had lived in the old house for several years after marrying into the family.

Zhou Junwen was indeed very hardworking, unlike Zhou Junjie, who was lazy and loved to eat.

However, Zhou Chengsen had told her to come back and ask his cousin, Zhou Jiansheng, if he was free.

Moreover, she was well aware that Jiang Xia had been the one to get Pan Daidi locked up.

She said, “I have to ask A-Sen’s cousin if he’s free first. If he’s not, I’ll come looking for you.”

Feng Xuexing was disappointed for a second time, but she smiled and said, “Alright, if you need someone, just let us know.”

“Okay!”

“Then I’ll go back and cook dinner now.”

“Mhm.”

After Feng Xuexing left, Li Xiuxian asked Jiang Xia in a low voice, “Was she here to ask if you were hiring crew members too?”

Jiang Xia picked up the pea pods from the well cover to begin preparing them. Hearing the question, she nodded. “Yes, but we’ve already hired Brother Jianxing.”

Li Xiuxian said, “Don’t worry, I know you don’t get along with their family! I won’t ask Zhou Junwen for help! I’m going to go see if Zhou Jiansheng is free. I’ll be back to cook in a bit.”

With that, Li Xiuxian turned her bicycle around.

Jiang Xia called out to her, “Second Sister-in-law, the rice is already being cooked. I didn’t know how much you would want, so you should probably put your own rice on to steam first!”

“Oh, you’re cooking earlier than usual today.”

“I went out to sea today. After we got back, Chenglei started the rice before heading to the pier.”

Li Xiuxian had no choice but to park her bike and go prepare the rice for herself and her daughter.

She washed the rice, placed it on the stove, and said to Jiang Xia, “Xiao Xia, when you steam the seafood later, could you put my rice in the iron pot to steam it through? It’s getting dark; I’m going to go ask Jiansheng if he’s free first.”

“Second Sister-in-law, why don’t you start the fire first? I’m not very good at it, and since I just washed my hair, I’m afraid the ash and smoke will get it dirty.”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Chapter 377: Jiang Xia Was Good at Bossing People Around

Li Xiuxian had no choice but to go back into the kitchen to start the fire.

Jiang Xia said, “Second Sister-in-law, use the firewood. Light that first. I’m afraid of using rice straw; the ash might fly onto my hair, and I won’t have time to keep an eye on the fire in a moment anyway.”

Li Xiuxian grabbed two pieces of firewood and threw them in. Once the kindling caught, she stuffed a few more logs inside and said, “There! It’s done!”

Jiang Xia spoke up again. “Second Sister-in-law, I shouldn’t be lifting heavy things right now. Could you help me wash the large iron wok? Chenglei said he’d cook the dishes when he got back, but the fish hasn’t even been sorted yet. If we wait for him to start everything, it’ll be dark before we get a bite to eat.”

Li Xiuxian was forced to wash the large iron wok as well.

When she finished, Jiang Xia added, “Second Sister-in-law, could you bring in two buckets of water? I’ll need them for steaming the rice and vegetables later. Oh, and please add some more water to the hot water pot. That way, Zhou Zhou and Yingying will have enough for their baths.”

…

Fifteen minutes later, Li Xiuxian finally left on her bicycle, her face dark with frustration.

By then, the rice was almost finished steaming!

Jiang Xia was truly skilled at bossing people around!

No, Jiang Xia had done it on purpose!

Jiang Xia had been planning to stir-fry the vegetables herself anyway!

Did she think she could stir-fry without a fire?

If Li Xiuxian hadn’t come back, would she have just skipped lighting the stove and washing the wok?

Just as Jiang Xia finished steaming all the seafood, Zhou Chenglei, Mother Zhou, and the family from the first branch returned.

Zhou Chenglei walked into the kitchen. “Didn’t I tell you I’d do the steaming when I got back?”

Then his expression changed when he saw the two buckets of water by the hearth. “Did you carry those?”

Mother Zhou was also startled. “Why would you lift such heavy water?”

These were wooden buckets, and they were incredibly heavy even when empty.

Jiang Xia replied, “I didn’t. I asked Second Sister-in-law to help me bring them in.”

Only then did Zhou Chenglei relax.

Mother Zhou asked in surprise, “Is your Second Brother back again?”

Jiang Xia said, “Second Brother didn’t come back, but Second Sister-in-law and Yingying did.”

Tian Caihua pursed her lips. “What is she back for again?”

Coming back every day—wasn’t it exhausting?

However, once Tian Caihua thought about her big gold bar, she felt that Li Xiuxian’s arrival was actually quite timely!

Jiang Xia explained, “Second Sister-in-law said she came back to see if Jiansheng was free. She wants to ask him to help them go out to sea.”

Mother Zhou asked, “She’s not asking her father and older brother?”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “I’m not sure. I think she wants to hire an extra person.”

Mother Zhou commented, “Hiring three people for one small boat?”

That was almost as many people as her youngest son had on his large boat!

Jiang Xia didn’t respond to that.

Tian Caihua said to Jiang Xia, “We’re still stir-frying the snow peas and pea shoots, right? I’ll do it!”

Jiang Xia didn’t stand on ceremony and immediately stepped aside.

Zhou Chenglei went to clean the fish. He had brought back a Large Yellow Croaker and some rabbitfish.

Steaming another Large Yellow Croaker and making a fish claypot would be plenty.

Soon, the group of children returned, bringing Jiang Xia some roasted sweet potatoes and roasted chestnuts.

Jiang Xia ate a roasted sweet potato.

These sweet potatoes were very small. They were tossed directly into the charcoal fire until the skin was charred black. After peeling away a thick layer of skin, only a piece of flesh about the thickness of a thumb remained.

This method was very wasteful, but it produced the most delicious roasted sweet potatoes.

They were incredibly fragrant!

Jiang Xia ate two in a row and then peeled two roasted chestnuts.

The children must have wrapped the chestnuts in mud before roasting them; the shells were only slightly charred, and the meat wasn’t burnt at all. They were very savory.

Seeing that Jiang Xia enjoyed them, Zhou Chenglei picked out a few sweet potatoes and had Tian Caihua, who was tending the fire, toss them into the hearth.

Mother Zhou drew water for Zhou Zhou and Zhou Ying to bathe.

The two sisters wanted to bathe together. She prepared a bucket of hot water for each of them and urged them to be quick so they wouldn’t catch a cold, then left them to it.

Since the weather was cold, bathing together created more steam in the bathroom, making it feel warmer.

With only one bucket of water each, they wouldn’t dawdle for too long, and Zhou Zhou was very sensible about such things.

Usually, Li Xiuxian helped Zhou Ying wash, but today, being with Zhou Zhou, she learned how to wash herself. The two sisters finished and came out just before dinner.

Li Xiuxian had returned by then and was pleased to see that Zhou Ying had learned to bathe herself.

The moment Tian Caihua saw Li Xiuxian, she said loudly, “Oh my, Second Sister-in-law, you’re back! You’ve timed your return perfectly for dinner. How do you manage to be even more punctual than my rooster’s crowing?”

Li Xiuxian ignored her and pulled Zhou Ying into the bedroom. “Mommy will put another layer of clothes on you.”

Tian Caihua was in a good mood, so she didn’t press the issue. She would deal with her after dinner when it was time to get the gold bar.

During the meal, Mother Zhou asked Li Xiuxian, “Is Jiansheng free to help out?”

“No, he’s planning to become a driver.”

Mother Zhou wasn’t surprised.

Zhou Jiansheng and Zhou Jianxing were brothers. Jiansheng had gone to learn driving a while back and intended to drive heavy trucks for someone.

Driving a truck was a lucrative job these days.

He had worked hard to save up enough money for the lessons and the license.

His maternal uncle had used some connections to introduce him to the job, so it wasn’t something he could easily turn down.

Li Xiuxian continued, “I asked several people, and they all said they’re busy. Mom, why don’t you help me find someone? I just need them to guide my dad and brother out to sea for four days. Once my dad gets used to it, we won’t need anyone else. The pay is two yuan a day.”

Li Xiuxian told Mother Zhou the names of the people she had already asked.

“You’ve already asked everyone who could be asked; it seems no one is available.” Mother Zhou couldn’t think of anyone either. It was the end of the year; the hardworking people were all out earning money for the New Year, and there was no point in hiring the lazy ones.

Li Xiuxian glanced at Jiang Xia, then asked Zhou Chenglei, “Fourth Brother, do any of your friends have time to help?”

Jiang Xia understood immediately—Li Xiuxian wanted to hire Zhou Junwen but felt awkward because of what she had said to Jiang Xia earlier.

Zhou Chenglei replied, “They do, but they aren’t familiar with our local waters.”

“Then what should I do? Everyone who knows the area is busy, and I can’t just let our boat sit there! I’m only hiring for a few days. Once my dad and brother know the way, I won’t need anyone.”

Tian Caihua said with a chuckle, “She’s right! Today our boat made over seventy yuan, and Xiao Xia’s boat made over a hundred and forty. Every day you let it sit idle, you’re losing over a hundred yuan!”

Li Xiuxian really detested the way Tian Caihua spoke. She ignored her and continued, “Initially, we planned to ask Great-Grandpa, but who would have thought that after listening to Xiao Xia, he’d run off to the school to open a convenience store! I’ve asked several people since I got back, and no one is free. I suppose they don’t like that it’s only for a few days. Honestly, it’s only a few days of work, so it doesn’t matter much who it is, as long as they know these waters and aren’t lazy or light-fingered.”

Mother Zhou nodded. “If it’s only for a few days, anyone will do as long as they know the area. Diligence isn’t the main concern. The problem is, who’s free right now? Most people won’t be back until the end of December.”

The Second Daughter-in-law was only offering two yuan a day for only four days of work—who would want that?

When Chenglei had hired Yongguo to go out to sea for one day, he had paid him ten yuan.

Li Xiuxian then said, “When I was coming back today, I ran into Xiuhui from next door. She was asking Xiao Xia if she was hiring, saying that Zhou Junwen is free. I’ll go speak to her in a bit and ask if Zhou Junwen can take my dad out for a few days.”

Mother Zhou said nothing.

Chapter 378: Hatching Chicks

Chenglei lifted his eyelids and shot a cold, piercing look at Li Xiuxian.

He didn’t say a word.

Instead, he picked up a piece of meat from the back of the Large Yellow Croaker and placed it in Jiang Xia’s bowl.

This time, even Tian Caihua kept her mouth shut, silently gnawing on a large abalone!

Li Xiuxian was practically begging for trouble.

Back then, Zhou Chengxin had nearly divorced her because of Pan Daidi’s family. Tian Caihua now took the long way around whenever she saw anyone from that neighboring family!

After all, Pan Daidi had nearly burned down the old house, and Chenglei was the one who had sent her to prison. The two families shared a grudge deeper than the ocean!

The dining table was far too quiet; no one spoke. Li Xiuxian broke the silence: “Mom, if you don’t have any objections, I’ll go tell Xiuhui after dinner.”

Mother Zhou replied indifferently, “Suit yourself. You don’t need to ask me.”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Was that tone really meant to mean “suit yourself”?

Jiang Xia didn’t even spare Li Xiuxian a glance, focusing entirely on enjoying the delicious food.

Today’s Large Yellow Croaker was fresh from the nets, exceptionally sweet and delicate. Seeing how much she liked it, Chenglei had given her nearly half of the meat from the fish’s back.

The abalone meat was thick, firm, and springy. The steamed scallops with minced garlic and vermicelli were sweet and savory; the vermicelli had soaked up all the scallop juices and garlic aroma, making them incredibly tasty.

The poached sea snails, dipped in a bit of seasoning, were crisp and chewy. Because Jiang Xia had added some bird’s eye chilies to the dipping sauce, they were particularly appetizing.

The oysters were plump, sweet, and fresh. Since there were many children in the house, Jiang Xia had steamed half with spicy seasoning and half without; both versions were delicious in their own way.

The cured meat was fragrant and chewy, the snow peas were crisp, and the pea shoots were tender.

Jiang Xia ate with great satisfaction.

Since the rest of the family ignored Li Xiuxian, the meal felt bitter to her. Even such wonderful dishes lacked flavor in her mouth.

After dinner, Tian Caihua briskly cleared the table, washed the dishes, and scrubbed the kitchen counters clean.

When Li Xiuxian offered to help, she was flatly refused.

The meal had been prepared by Jiang Xia and her husband. Tian Caihua, who had basically “found gold,” didn’t have a single complaint about doing the dishes and cleaning up.

Once she finished tidying, Tian Caihua went to find Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia returned the two gold bars to her.

Tian Caihua asked, “What time are we leaving for the city tomorrow?”

Jiang Xia replied, “Chenglei and I are leaving at eight o’clock on the motorcycle. Are you taking the bus or riding your bicycle?”

“I’ll ride my bike; I get motion sickness,” Tian Caihua said.

Since the motorcycle was faster than a bicycle, Tian Caihua decided to set off half an hour earlier than Jiang Xia.

Having made their plans, Tian Caihua happily walked out of Jiang Xia’s room, clutching her two gold bars.

Li Xiuxian watched as Tian Caihua walked with both hands tucked into her jacket pockets, her expression looking as if she had struck gold. She wondered what good thing Jiang Xia had given her.

She asked, “Big Sister-in-law, what are you and Xiao Xia going to the city for tomorrow?”

Tian Caihua said happily, “Chenglei bought a new tractor. They’re going to drive it back tomorrow, and I’m going to buy a stall!”

If she couldn’t afford a house yet, she’d buy a stall in the city first.

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Leaving it at that, Tian Caihua happily called for Zhou Chengxin to head home.

Zhou Chengxin was sitting on the swing in the courtyard, smoking a cigarette while waiting for her.

The children had already gone home. He was waiting for Tian Caihua because he was afraid that her carrying gold bars would be too conspicuous. The village paths were pitch black; if someone robbed her, they wouldn’t even know who did it.

Li Xiuxian pursed her lips. Fine, buy it then. What’s the big deal? Our family will be able to buy one sooner or later.

She watched Tian Caihua with her hands in her pockets and noted how Zhou Chengxin had specifically waited to walk her home. Usually, after dinner, Zhou Chengxin would go home first to help the kids bathe, never waiting for Tian Caihua.

Could it be that Tian Caihua’s pockets were filled with money?

While Chenglei was bathing, Jiang Xia came out with her empty milk bowl, intending to brush her teeth and go to bed.

Li Xiuxian glanced at her: Did Jiang Xia lend money to Tian Caihua to buy a storefront?

Jiang Xia went straight to the well, washed the bowl clean, and then put it back in the kitchen cupboard.

In the kitchen, Mother Zhou was using a flashlight to inspect some eggs.

“Mom, what are you doing?”

Mother Zhou replied, “One of the hens is going broody, so I’m picking out some eggs to hatch some chicks.”

Winter wasn’t the ideal time to hatch chicks, but since the weather had been warm lately, she wanted to seize the chance to hatch a brood. When Jiang Xia began her post-birth confinement, she would need both eggs and chicken. If they started raising hens now, they would start laying in about six months. By then, Jiang Xia would have plenty of chicken and eggs to eat.

Hatching them at home wouldn’t be enough, so Mother Zhou planned to go to the market after the New Year to buy more month-old chicks to raise.

A chicken had to be raised for over two hundred days to be truly delicious; by then, even the skin would be crisp, yet the meat wouldn’t be too tough or stringy to chew.

Geese, on the other hand, could be eaten after about a hundred days. Once a goose reached a hundred days, its feathers were fully grown, making them easy to pluck. A plucked hundred-day goose would be clean, white, and plump, without those stubborn pinfeathers stuck in the skin that were a nightmare to deal with.

If the pinfeathers weren’t fully grown, they were almost impossible to remove completely, leaving the skin looking unappetizing. Because of this, Mother Zhou had carefully calculated the date to get her goslings so they would be exactly a hundred days old by the New Year.

Watching Mother Zhou inspect three eggs, Jiang Xia understood.

Under the flashlight, a fertilized egg would show a small spot and some spider-web-like veins. Those were the ones that could hatch into chicks.

“Mom, let me try?”

Mother Zhou handed the flashlight to Jiang Xia and taught her how to check.

When Chenglei came out after his bath, he saw Jiang Xia and his mother inspecting eggs together. Seeing her having so much fun, he didn’t rush her to bed.

Instead, he went to wash their clothes.

Jiang Xia soon finished checking the eggs, having picked out twelve in total.

Mother Zhou took the eggs to the shed next door, where she had prepared a nesting box specifically for the broody hen. It was simple: an old mat fashioned into a circle and filled with a thick layer of straw. Mother Zhou placed the eggs inside, then picked up the broody hen and placed her on top of them.

Chickens can’t see at night, making them very easy to catch.

The hen gave a couple of squawks when Mother Zhou picked her up in the dim light, but she went quiet as soon as she was set down. Jiang Xia watched as the hen found a comfortable position over the eggs, hunkered down, and stayed perfectly still.

Mother Zhou had moved a coal stove to the doorway of the shed. A large aluminum pot was heating tomorrow’s chicken feed on it, providing a bit of warmth to the room while still allowing for ventilation.

Once she had learned the process, Jiang Xia walked to the well. Chenglei ladled some water for her to wash her hands.

After washing up, she helped him rinse the clothes.

“No need, go on to bed,” Chenglei said.

“I’m not sleepy yet. Let’s wring them together; it’ll get them drier.” Jiang Xia grabbed the collar of her jacket and gestured for him to grab the hem.

She had seen Father Zhou and Mother Zhou wring out bedsheets this way.

Seeing her enthusiasm, Chenglei complied.

Each holding one end of the jacket, they twisted with force in opposite directions.

Once no more water dripped out, Jiang Xia said, “That’s good.”

“Give it to me.”

Jiang Xia let go.

Chenglei took the garment, folded it over, and gave it a powerful solo twist with both hands. Another stream of water droplets showered down.

He glanced at Jiang Xia, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Jiang Xia: “…”

Fine, we can save the money for a washing machine. He’s got more than enough strength anyway!

Chapter 379: Rice Dumplings

Jiang Xia didn’t wake up until seven o’clock the next morning.

By then, Li Xiuxian was already getting ready to head back to town for work.

Li Xiuxian said to Mother Zhou, “Mom, could you help me ask around and see who’s free to help us go out to sea?”

After seeing Mother Zhou’s displeasure the previous night and the silence from the rest of the family, Li Xiuxian didn’t dare mention hiring Zhou Junwen again.

Of course, she had only suggested it in the heat of the moment, unable to stop herself from trying to spite Jiang Xia.

She felt that as soon as she came home, Jiang Xia was constantly ordering her around to do this and that.

Yet, Jiang Xia remained completely unaffected, eating whatever she wanted and enjoying it immensely! Meanwhile, Li Xiuxian was the one receiving the cold shoulder from the entire family.

Seeing that she was no longer insisting on hiring Zhou Junwen, Mother Zhou’s tone softened. “Fine. But fishing at sea is risky, hard work, and the hours are long. You’ll need to pay at least three yuan a day to find anyone willing to do it.”

Li Xiuxian grit her teeth and nodded. “Fine, three yuan it is!”

Her father and elder brother each wanted five yuan a day. Fuel costs would be at least twenty yuan, and if they went further out, twenty yuan wouldn’t even cover it.

Calculated like that, the daily cost would be at least thirty-three yuan.

There aren’t many expensive fish in the sea, and the common ones aren’t worth much. They would need to catch at least 50 kg of fish every day just to break even; they would only start turning a profit after the first 50 kg.

Mother Zhou couldn’t help but add, “The day after tomorrow, A-Lei and the others are going out to sea at four thirty. Tell your father to get up early and be here on time to follow them. Large fish are more likely to appear before dawn. If you don’t head out until after seven, it’ll take over an hour just to reach the spot to cast the trawl net. It’ll be past nine by then! Others will have already finished their first haul. How do you expect to make any money?”

How could Li Xiuxian not know this? “I’ll tell them. We’ll see if they can make it. They aren’t used to waking up early yet, it’s only temporary. They’ll be fine once they get used to it.”

Mother Zhou said nothing more.

As Li Xiuxian was leaving the house, she happened to run into Tian Caihua riding her bicycle over, with two food baskets hanging from the handlebars.

Tian Caihua greeted Li Xiuxian with a smile. “Second Sister-in-law, do you want to take the day off and come look at stalls and storefronts with us? You’re more educated, so you must have better taste than me. You could give me some advice and help me pick a prime location. You know me—I don’t know a single character and can’t even write my own name.”

Even an illiterate person was living better than her now. Let’s see how she could act superior anymore!

Li Xiuxian’s face darkened. “I don’t have time. I have to work!”

Leaving behind those words, Li Xiuxian pedaled away on her bicycle.

It’s just buying a stall, and she talks about it every single day!

Tian Caihua had arrived so early specifically to irritate Li Xiuxian. Having succeeded, she happily entered the courtyard. “Xiao Xia! Look what delicious food I brought you!”

Tian Caihua propped up her bike. The two baskets contained a large plate of rice dumplings and another large plate of rice noodles steamed on a round bamboo tray.

“Mom, Xiao Xia, I made these rice dumplings this morning with jicama filling. Give them a try. I made these rice noodles while I was steaming the skins. At noon, Mom, you can make a noodle soup for the kids and reheat the rice dumplings for them. You won’t even need to cook rice!”

Mother Zhou was surprised. “You made these this morning? You must have gotten up very early.”

This was a snack from Mother Zhou’s hometown, and Tian Caihua had learned how to make it from her.

To make rice dumplings, one had to soak the rice the night before, then grind it into a slurry the next morning. The slurry was steamed into thin skins, which were then filled with sautéed diced meat and jicama. To make it more fragrant, crushed peanuts were added, which meant shelling and roasting the peanuts beforehand.

Tian Caihua had added peanuts, but she had roasted them, removed the skins, and crushed them the night before in preparation.

Tian Caihua smiled. “I usually get up at four to cook for Ah Xin anyway, so I’m used to it. I thought Xiao Xia hadn’t tried rice dumplings before, and you haven’t had time to make them, Mom. Since we aren’t going out to sea today, I made some for Xiao Xia to taste. When I was pregnant with Wenzu, I loved these. Mom used to make them for me all the time.”

“Xiao Xia, try some. If you like them, let me know, and I’ll make more for you.”

After going out to sea with Jiang Xia and finding two large gold bars, she had to show some gratitude! Otherwise, what if Jiang Xia didn’t take her along next time?

Besides, they were going to buy the stall today, and she needed Jiang Xia’s help to bargain. The prices for those stalls had already started to go up.

Jiang Xia looked at the rice dumplings—thin rice skins wrapped around a filling. She hadn’t eaten them before, but she could tell just by looking how troublesome they were to make. She smiled and said, “Thank you, Big Sister-in-law.”

Seeing the rice dumplings reminded Mother Zhou that she should take advantage of the good weather over the next two days to steam some rice skins and dry some rice noodles to stock up.

Every year, Mother Zhou would make her own dried rice noodles and sweet potato starch so it would be convenient for Father Zhou and her sons to take them out to sea during the winter to make noodle soup.

The men in the Zhou family all loved the rice noodles and sweet potato starch Mother Zhou made.

Mother Zhou decided to start soaking the rice in a bit, grind it into slurry in the afternoon, and start steaming them tonight.

Tian Caihua went inside to set down the rice dumplings and homemade rice noodles.

Just then, Zhou Chengxin also walked into the courtyard. There was only one bicycle at his house, so he had come to the old house to borrow Father Zhou’s bike.

Zhou Chengxin asked Chenglei, “Which bags of fried fish need to go to the city? I can help carry two of the smaller ones.”

Chenglei was currently tying a load of crates onto his motorcycle; he was delivering fried fish to the train station in the city later.

“Those few bags on the ground. You and Big Sister-in-law can each take one on your bikes.”

Tian Caihua walked out, saw there were six bags in total, and said, “I’ll help carry two as well!”

Jiang Xia said, “Just one bag is fine, Big Sister-in-law. One bag is 25 kg; it’s too heavy.”

Tian Caihua replied, “It’s fine. It’ll be strapped to the bike, so I won’t be the one exerting the strength.”

In the past, Tian Caihua had successfully transported 50 kg of fish to the city to sell on her bicycle.

“Really, it’s not necessary. We can fit three or four bags on the motorcycle. It’s much easier with the motor.”

“Alright then.” Tian Caihua went to steady her bike, and Zhou Chengxin lifted a bag of fried fish into the crate on the back.

Two bags were already strapped to Father Zhou’s bicycle, one on each side.

Tian Caihua’s bike had a wooden board strapped to it, and Zhou Chengxin lifted another bag of fried fish onto it and secured it.

The husband and wife team set off first.

Jiang Xia and Chenglei finished their breakfast and set off a bit later.

The four of them had agreed to meet at the Agricultural Machinery Factory.

A few days ago, they had received a call from the factory saying the tractor was in stock and ready to be picked up.

Chenglei had arranged to pick up the tractor today since they were already heading in to deliver the fried fish.

When the couple arrived at the Agricultural Machinery Factory, they paid the remaining balance and were cleared to drive the tractor away.

Zhou Chengxin drove the tractor, with the two bicycles and all the bags of fried fish loaded onto it. They then set off to find Li Zhihua.

When Chenglei had passed by the production team earlier, he had already called Li Zhihua and arranged to meet at the entrance of the seafood market at eleven o’clock.

Chenglei also planned to buy another storefront this time as a birthday gift for Jiang Dong. Jiang Dong had called yesterday evening to say he had bought a courtyard house in the capital for them.

Chenglei didn’t want to take advantage of his brother-in-law’s generosity, so he intended to make up for it elsewhere.

Chapter 380: Is He Trying to Force a Sale?

Chenglei considered that the fields and paddies in the village were flat and stretched out as far as the eye could see, so he also selected paddy wheels, a moldboard plow, and a rotary tiller as attachments.

“Oh, sitting on our own tractor really does feel different!” Tian Caihua sat atop the new tractor, wiggling her bottom as she adjusted her seat. One moment she was stroking the big red flower tied to the handlebar, and the next, she was patting the seat, her face glowing with smug satisfaction.

And why shouldn’t she be? This was the very first tractor in the village—not counting the production team’s!

Besides, this tractor cost over three thousand yuan! Now that their family owned one, they wouldn’t have to hire someone else’s ever again.

Once the New Year was over and spring plowing began, they finally wouldn’t have to drag an ox along to plow the fields!

She also wouldn’t have to break her back manually plowing the land.

Working an entire day by hand, she could barely finish 133 square meters, and every year she’d end up with blisters all over her hands.

When the time came, she would just drive the tractor out, go around a few times with a “tu-tu-tu,” and the family’s entire plot would be plowed in a single day.

There would be no more waiting in line for the production team’s tractor either.

Most importantly, when they drove this back into the village later, she would absolutely be the star of the village.

The mere thought of that grand entrance made Tian Caihua feel incredibly powerful. She couldn’t stop grinning.

The four of them first went to the train station to drop off the small dried fish and fried fish, then drove the tractor and the motorcycle straight to the seafood market.

The seafood market was located in a remote area, surrounded by desolate land, which made Tian Caihua feel a bit cold inside.

Was this place really worth buying into?

Li Zhihua noticed the doubt in Tian Caihua’s eyes as she scanned the wasteland. He smiled and said, “Don’t let the current desolation fool you. There’s only one residential development being built now, but look at this road—doesn’t it lead straight to the city center? There’s another road planned that will connect to the highway, and the nearby land has already been requisitioned for construction… Anyway, rest assured, this place is going to be booming in the future! Once it’s finished, this will be the first and largest seafood market in our city!”

Tian Caihua reminded herself that Jiang Xia had already bought ten stalls. What was there to fear?

With Jiang Xia’s luck—the kind of luck where she could find gold, jade, and pearls just by going out to sea to fish—how could she be wrong?

In an instant, the desolate wasteland in Tian Caihua’s eyes transformed into a bustling pier and a crowded marketplace.

Crowds of people, oceans of wealth!

“We’ll buy it. Three stalls. Xiao Xia, which three do you think are best? Whichever ones you say, I’ll buy!”

Jiang Xia asked Li Zhihua which ones were still available.

Many of the stalls near the exits had already been sold, leaving mostly the interior ones.

Jiang Xia helped Tian Caihua pick one near the east exit and two near the south exit.

Zhou Chengxin asked Jiang Xia, “Are the two by the northwest exit no good?”

Tian Caihua interjected, “What’s good about the northwest? Facing the northwest just to be freezing in the cold wind? Listen to Xiao Xia, we’re buying these three!”

Jiang Xia smiled and explained, “It’s not that the ones over there are bad, but I suspect that area will eventually be designated for dried goods and vegetables. Since our family makes a living from fishing, I think it’s better to be on the side where fresh seafood is traded.”

Jiang Xia, of course, wouldn’t say that according to the book’s plot, the stalls by the southeast exits were the most prosperous.

“That’s fine then, we’ll take the three Xiao Xia picked.”

Jiang Xia then asked Li Zhihua, “These three stalls aren’t right next to the exits, so can they be a bit cheaper?”

Li Zhihua replied, “They are slightly cheaper, but all the stall prices have gone up recently. Even the cheapest interior stalls are three thousand yuan now. But since we’ve worked together before, I’ll give them to you at the previous price—twenty-eight hundred each.”

Tian Caihua jumped in, “Can’t you make it a bit cheaper? How about two thousand?”

Li Zhihua shook his head. “Two thousand really isn’t possible. Twenty-eight hundred is the absolute lowest!”

Tian Caihua persisted, “Come on, two thousand! Look at how desolate it is around here. Everything you said about the future is just talk for now! Who knows when those things will actually be built? I’m betting my entire life savings on this…”

Tian Caihua spent the next half hour trying to wear Li Zhihua down, but she didn’t manage to shave off a single cent.

Usually, Tian Caihua was a master at haggling with her silver tongue.

The local butchers would turn their bicycles around and run the moment they saw her coming.

Who would want to do business with someone who tries to get 500 grams for free after buying 250 grams?

She hadn’t expected to run into such a “hard nut” this time.

Her words couldn’t wear him down. In fact, the more she talked, the firmer he became.

Chenglei spoke up, “If I buy another storefront and one more stall, could you give us a discount?”

Li Zhihua didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I really can’t go any lower. I can only give them to you at the price you paid before. Honestly, that’s already a steal.”

Jiang Xia tugged at Chenglei’s sleeve. “Why are you buying another shop and stall?”

He hadn’t mentioned this last night.

Chenglei explained, “Jiang Dong asked me to help him buy them.”

Jiang Dong’s household registration had been moved to his school, but the last time he sent a package to Jiang Xia, he had sent his household register back, saying Father Jiang needed it.

Jiang Dong had been too lazy to mail it directly to Father Jiang, thinking it felt awkward to send just the booklet without a long letter, but he never knew what to write. So, he sent it to Jiang Xia, asking her to hand it over to their father next time she went home.

Because of this, Jiang Dong’s household register was currently with Chenglei, making it easy to buy the property.

Of course, Chenglei had previously sent Jiang Xia’s household register to Jiang Dong, asking him to help buy a courtyard house.

Hearing this, Jiang Xia said, “Why didn’t he buy more? Didn’t he get a big commission from the Canton Fair?”

Jiang Dong had received his dividends; he was quite wealthy now!

Chenglei replied, “He probably has other uses for his money.”

Jiang Dong had said the courtyard house was meant to be a surprise gift for Jiang Xia and the children, and he didn’t want her to know until she started university. Thus, Chenglei kept the secret.

Tian Caihua glanced at Jiang Xia, sighing inwardly. Was her sister-in-law’s younger brother really that rich?

Was the Canton Fair that profitable?

She was so envious!

In the end, Tian Caihua bought the three stalls.

She looked at the storefront Chenglei had picked for Jiang Dong, her eyes full of longing.

Ah, she had to work harder and follow Jiang Xia out to sea!

Sooner or later, she would have a big shop like that too!

After finishing the purchases, the four of them went out to eat. Tian Caihua said, “Come on, let’s go to a restaurant. We bought the stalls today; we have to celebrate. Xiao Xia, what do you want to eat? My treat.”

Jiang Xia replied, “I have a good appetite, I’ll eat anything.”

Tian Caihua suggested, “Then let’s go to that new Fuman Restaurant! I saw one just now; I don’t think it was there before.”

Jiang Xia recalled the incident with selling the fish last time, but she didn’t refuse.

“Sure.”

So, they headed to Fuman Restaurant.

The owner wasn’t around when they arrived. Tian Caihua rarely ate at restaurants, so she let Jiang Xia order.

Jiang Xia ordered chestnut braised chicken and stir-fried sliced pork with chili. “These are the only two I really want. Big Brother, Sister-in-law, you guys order the rest!”

Zhou Chengxin couldn’t live without fish. He ordered braised Red Seabream and salt and pepper mantis shrimp. He was about to order pan-fried Small Yellow Croaker when Jiang Xia stopped him. “Big Brother, four dishes are enough. We won’t be able to finish more.”

The portions in restaurants these days were very generous.

Zhou Chengxin insisted, “Then we’ll just eat more.”

He went ahead and ordered the pan-fried Small Yellow Croaker, minced garlic lettuce, and a fish soup.

Tian Caihua laughed. “Six dishes! Six for luck, a booming life, and great fortune!”

Halfway through their meal, the owner of Fuman Restaurant walked out. He recognized Jiang Xia and Chenglei immediately and walked over happily. “Why didn’t you let me know you were coming here to eat?”

Jiang Xia smiled and said, “We heard the food at Fuman Restaurant is delicious and the seafood is fresh, so we came specifically to try it.”

The owner happily waved to a server. “Hey, add a dish of sea cucumbers to this table! And bring me a set of bowls and chopsticks.”

Tian Caihua: “…”

A dish of sea cucumbers must cost dozens of yuan, right? Maybe even a hundred? Boss, you’re really something!

Is he trying to force a sale?

Chapter 381: Materials

Jiang Xia quickly said, “Owner, there’s no need to add more dishes. This is enough. There’s already so much, and your restaurant’s portions are quite generous. we won’t be able to finish it all.”

“It’s fine, eat a bit more! This meal is on the house. Thank you all for giving me the face to come and support my business.”

After all, kindness begets obligation. The next time they caught a good fish, they would surely think of him!

Tian Caihua’s eyes lit up!

Could there really be such a good thing?

After the owner of Fuman Restaurant finished adding the dishes, he asked with a smile, “Do you mind if I join you all for the meal?”

Jiang Xia smiled and replied, “My Big Brother and Sister-in-law are the hosts today. You’ll have to ask them.”

“So it’s Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law! A pleasure to meet you! A pleasure indeed!” The owner of Fuman Restaurant quickly reached out to shake Zhou Chengxin’s hand.

Then he turned to Tian Caihua with a smile and asked, “Sister-in-law, you don’t mind if I join you for a meal, do you?”

With someone else picking up the tab, how could Tian Caihua possibly be unwilling? She beamed and said, “Not at all, not at all! Please, have a seat, Boss.”

The owner pulled up a chair and sat down next to Chenglei. He then began talking to Chenglei and Jiang Xia about the tuna from that afternoon.

“With so many tuna, why didn’t you notify me to come and buy a couple? In the future, if you have any good fish, there’s no need to sell them to the middlemen. My restaurant will take them all! I’ll definitely pay a higher price than what those middlemen give you. They just turn around and sell the fish to us anyway. I’d rather let you earn that price difference directly!”

Jiang Xia smiled. “There will be opportunities in the future.”

Seeing a chance to make money, Tian Caihua immediately chirped in, “Boss, if we catch good fish and bring them to you, will you really take them?”

The owner of Fuman Restaurant replied instantly, “I will! If Sister-in-law brings them, I will definitely take them!”

In truth, Jiang Xia and Chenglei didn’t look like typical fishers at all.

On the contrary, the Big Brother and Sister-in-law fit the description perfectly.

What ordinary fisherman possessed such a sharp, powerful presence as Chenglei?

And what fisherwoman was as elegant and beautiful as Jiang Xia?

Tian Caihua was delighted to hear this. “Then next time we catch something good, I’ll bring it straight to you.”

“Why should you have to give yourself the trouble? Just give me a call, and I’ll immediately send someone over to collect it.” With that, the owner of Fuman Restaurant took the opportunity to give his restaurant’s phone number to both Jiang Xia and Tian Caihua.

The owner was a very talkative man.

Tian Caihua was also someone who loved to talk and had never been so courted by someone before. Over the course of the meal, the owner didn’t just find out that Chenglei was a veteran; he also learned how many siblings Chenglei had, how many boats the Zhou family owned, that Zhou Chengsen worked for the town government, and even exactly where the Zhou family home was located.

If Chenglei hadn’t interrupted in time, the owner would have likely found out Chenglei’s former rank before he was discharged and who Jiang Xia’s father was.

Nonetheless, the owner of Fuman Restaurant managed to pick up on the subtle cues.

He stole a discreet glance at Jiang Xia and Chenglei.

So, this couple was clearly not as simple as they seemed, right?

Tian Caihua spoke a lot, but she didn’t let talking get in the way of her eating. She finished off half a plate of sea cucumbers by herself.

Jiang Xia was quieter, and though she had a large appetite lately, she still couldn’t match Tian Caihua’s gusto.

Still, the meal was a success, leaving both the guests and the host pleased.

When Zhou Chengxin went to settle the bill, the owner flatly refused to take his money, insisting that bringing him good fish in the future would be doing him the biggest favor.

He even personally escorted them to the door.

After leaving Fuman Restaurant, Jiang Xia and Chenglei needed to head back to her parents’ home to drop off Jiang Dong’s household register and give some small dried fish and dry goods to Father and Mother Jiang.

Chenglei’s old comrade had brought a lot of dry goods over, and since they couldn’t finish it all, they were bringing some for her parents.

However, Father and Mother Jiang were at work today and weren’t home. Jiang Xia put the items down, left a note, and departed.

Then, the couple headed to the publishing house to submit their translated manuscripts and pick up more books to work on at home.

Zhou Chengxin and Tian Caihua took the tractor and headed back first.

On the way, Tian Caihua remarked, “The owner of Fuman Restaurant is truly generous!”

Zhou Chengxin’s lip twitched. “You’re the type to be sold and then help count the money for the one who sold you! From now on, don’t talk about A-Lei and Xiao Xia’s business to people we don’t know well.”

Tian Caihua huffed, “I know! Wasn’t I just caught up in the moment?”

Zhou Chengxin countered, “When are you not caught up in the moment? If you can’t control your tongue, just don’t speak!”

Tian Caihua: “…”

Hmph! I’m ignoring him. Regardless, today had been a wonderful day.

At the publishing house.

Editor-in-Chief Fan was currently speaking with Wen Wan.

“Your translation level is getting higher and higher. Therefore, starting today, your translation fee will increase by five yuan for every 100,000 words.”

Wen Wan smiled. “Thank you, Editor-in-Chief Fan.”

Fan Lili smiled back. “You’re welcome. This is what you’ve earned.”

Wen Wan added, “It’s also because you think well of me and gave me this opportunity.”

Fan Lili said, “You also have to be motivated yourself to keep improving your translations.”

Wen Wan glanced at the books on Fan Lili’s desk. Seeing that they were all high school review materials, she couldn’t help but ask, “Editor-in-Chief Fan, are these high school review materials for your own children? Could I perhaps borrow them to take a look?”

Fan Lili glanced at them and shook her head. “No, these were entrusted to me to pass along to someone else.”

These were materials Xiao Yan had asked her husband to bring back from the capital for Jiang Xia. Besides the Gaokao review materials, there were also books for learning Korean.

Xiao Yan had complained that postage was too expensive, so she had insisted on her uncle lugging several dozen kilograms of books all the way back by train.

Having been rejected, Wen Wan’s smile stiffened slightly. She laughed it off, saying, “I see. I apologize for overstepping! I’ll go collect my payment now.”

Those specific review materials weren’t even available in the local bookstores. Moreover, Wen Wan had noticed a test paper with the name of a school on it—a very famous high school in the capital. She guessed they must be review materials from the capital.

Although she was very confident about next year’s Gaokao, her goal was to be the Provincial Top Scholar.

In her past life, she hadn’t been able to take the Gaokao this year. Later, she had specifically looked up this year’s exam papers and tried the questions herself, so she remembered some of them.

She was very confident that she could get a high score and enter Jingda.

Naturally, if she could get her hands on Gaokao review materials from the capital, she believed her chances of becoming the top scholar would be even greater.

She wondered who Fan Lili was planning to give them to.

Fan Lili nodded in dismissal.

As Wen Wan walked out, Jiang Xia and Chenglei were just about to enter the office.

The three almost collided, but Chenglei was quick-eyed and agile, pulling Jiang Xia into his arms to avoid the bump.

“Big Brother Zhou,” Wen Wan greeted Chenglei briefly before heading toward the finance department.

She noticed Chenglei was carrying several books in his arms.

Jiang Xia’s translation fee was much higher than hers, and she knew more languages! Furthermore, she heard that Chenglei also did translations, and the volume of books he translated was double her own.

With the husband and wife translating together, they easily earned five to six hundred yuan a month in royalties.

The people in the finance department were all envious of their income.

Meanwhile, she only made a bit over a hundred yuan a month. This month, because she didn’t have classes and spent her days and nights translating at home, she had finished two extra books, yet she only earned two hundred yuan.

Just wait until I get into Jingda!

Once she gained fame, her translation fees would naturally skyrocket.

If she could become the Provincial Top Scholar, it would be even better!

By then, Jiang Xia wouldn’t even be able to compare to her.

Furthermore, once she was in university, she and Jiang Xia would no longer move in the same circles.

In university, she would have the chance to surpass Jiang Xia’s current level.

Jiang Xia and Chenglei walked inside.

Fan Lili saw them and smiled. “I figured you might come today. It just so happens that Xiao Yan asked her uncle to bring some high school practice books and review materials for you.”

This time, Fan Lili’s tone was even warmer toward Jiang Xia.

That was because her husband had gone to the capital and discovered that Jiang Dong and Zhang Fuyan were officially dating.

Unless something unexpected happened, she and Jiang Xia would be relatives by marriage in the future. How could she not be enthusiastic?

Chapter 382: Call an Ambulance

After collecting the translation fee, Chenglei carried a box of books and walked out of the publishing house with Jiang Xia.

“There are steps ahead, watch your step,” Chenglei reminded Jiang Xia.

Both his hands were full of books, so he couldn’t hold her, afraid she wouldn’t notice.

Jiang Xia was looking at Wen Wan, who was standing beside their motorcycle. Hearing him, she lowered her head to look.

The two walked towards the motorcycle. Wen Wan softly said, “Big Brother Zhou, Sister Xiao Xia, I’m feeling a bit unwell. Can I ride your motorcycle back to the village? I get carsick in cars and threw up several times this morning. The car’s smell is too strong, and I’m pregnant now, so I can’t stand any strange odors.”

Wen Wan wasn’t lying; she had been suffering from severe morning sickness recently. She would feel nauseous as soon as she smelled anything unusual.

Just now, she had used the restroom at the publishing house, smelled a strange odor, and threw up again!

Now, she couldn’t even stand the smell of fish, which was why she didn’t dare to go out to sea with Zhou Guohua anymore.

The night before last, she had dreamed Chenglei found many gold bars. She had originally planned to go out to sea yesterday but threw up as soon as she got on the boat, so she didn’t succeed.

She wondered if they had found them?

Probably not, right?

Jiang Xia glanced at Wen Wan; her face was indeed pale. She said to Chenglei, “I’ll make a call.”

Chenglei also glanced at Wen Wan; that deathly pale face couldn’t be faked. He placed the books on the ground and said to Jiang Xia, “I’ll go, wait for me.”

Then he turned and walked back with big strides.

Jiang Xia looked at Wen Wan. Besides her pale face, her spirits were also low. Afraid she might have low blood sugar, Jiang Xia handed her a White Rabbit candy, “If you’re not feeling well, go see a doctor. You go see a doctor, and we’ll help you call back to the village. Then Zhou Guohua can come pick you up.”

Wen Wan nearly rolled her eyes. What use was it to have Zhou Guohua come?

Wait for him to ride his bicycle to pick her up?

Riding a bicycle was so bumpy; something would become something even if nothing was wrong!

She didn’t take Jiang Xia’s candy. “No! It’s just morning sickness; my face is only pale because I just finished throwing up. Just take me back since you’re heading that way.”

Jiang Xia ignored her and ate the candy herself. If she wouldn’t see a doctor with that kind of face, who would dare give her a ride? Who would be responsible if something happened?

In this situation, sending her to the hospital was undoubtedly the most appropriate.

“Haven’t you ever thrown up?” Wen Wan walked a little further away in distaste, then couldn’t help but scrutinize Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia was wearing a black wool coat today, with a Christmas red turtleneck sweater underneath, which made her skin appear fair and rosy. In the sunlight, her skin was delicate like jade, glowing with beauty.

How could someone become a little more beautiful every time you saw them?

Jiang Xia, sucking on her candy, said faintly, “No.”

Aside from being a little greedy and a little fond of sleep, she felt nothing else. She could eat like a pig and sleep like a pig.

Thinking this, Jiang Xia felt that she probably was carrying three greedy and lazy little pigs.

Wen Wan couldn’t help but envy Jiang Xia.

Because of her morning sickness, she couldn’t eat or sleep well, and her skin had become worse!

But everyone said that if a baby made its mother suffer a lot, it must be a boy, as boys were naughty.

Zhou Guohua’s mother had even given her a gold ring as a reward. She would get a gold bracelet when the grandson was born.

Wen Wan had heard that if a woman’s skin improved during pregnancy, she was mostly carrying a girl.

Jiang Xia was getting more beautiful while pregnant. Was she carrying a girl?

In this era, people in the village were quite patriarchal. If Jiang Xia gave birth to a girl, would Chenglei despise her? Would Mother Zhou and Father Zhou still like her?

Just then, Chenglei came out and said to Wen Wan, “You can go inside and wait; the car will be here soon.”

“What car?” Wen Wan asked in surprise.

Chenglei: “An ambulance.”

Wen Wan: “…”

“You called an ambulance for me?” Wen Wan shrieked, barely able to believe it.

“Aren’t you feeling unwell?” Chenglei didn’t look at her. He bent down to arrange the books into two crates.

Her face was so pale; he didn’t know what was wrong.

Chenglei was even afraid she might collapse at any moment.

Of course, calling an ambulance was the right thing to do.

It wasn’t a problem for them to take her to the hospital, but he would be transporting her on his motorcycle.

Then Jiang Xia would have to sit in the middle, and she would sit behind, right?

What if she suddenly fainted and fell off the motorcycle?

What if she pulled Jiang Xia down with her?

Calling an ambulance was the safest option!

Wen Wan was practically fuming. “I’m not going to the hospital! It’s just morning sickness; I don’t need to go to the hospital. You can just give me a ride home since it’s on your way!”

“The ambulance has already been called, and I’ve already informed your family. Zhou Guohua is on his way.”

Just then, a white car stopped in front of them.

The City No. 1 Hospital was nearby, so the ambulance arrived quickly.

A nurse jumped out, “Where’s the patient?”

Jiang Xia pointed to Wen Wan, “She’s pregnant and says she’s not feeling well. We’ve already informed her family.”

Wen Wan: “I’m just experiencing morning sickness; I don’t need to go to the hospital.”

The doctor looked at her cyanotic face. “Are you throwing up very severely? Haven’t eaten all day? You should still go to the hospital for some nutritional IV fluids and oxygen!”

The nurse heard this and said, “You need to pay the ambulance fee first, 2 yuan.”

Jiang Xia looked at Wen Wan, knowing she had translation fees but not how much. “Do you have money on you? Do you want me to lend you some first?”

Wen Wan was so angry she didn’t want to speak. She directly pulled out 2 yuan and handed it to the nurse, then climbed into the ambulance herself.

Proving she was perfectly fine!

She shouldn’t have asked this black-hearted couple for help, causing her to waste a few yuan for an unnecessary hospital visit!

Jiang Xia then said to Wen Wan inside the car, “You should still get a check-up, just treat it as a prenatal checkup. Zhou Guohua will be here soon.”

Wen Wan turned her head away, not wanting to bother with them.

The ambulance drove off. Chenglei secured the books, started the motorcycle, and said to Jiang Xia, “Let’s go.”

“Okay,” Jiang Xia took his extended hand, got onto the motorcycle, and settled in. “Ready.”

Chenglei pressed the clutch, released the handbrake, and sped off.

Leaving the publishing house, Chenglei rode the motorcycle towards the military hospital.

Seeing his route, Jiang Xia said, “It’s only two months now; let’s check next month! We can’t see much now.”

She remembered colleagues having prenatal checkups, and they usually started various examinations after three or four months.

Chenglei: “Anyway, we’re already in the city. We might as well let Dr. Gao check on how our baby is growing.”

Jiang Xia let him have his way. He was a bit overly anxious, and a check-up would probably put his mind at ease.

She genuinely felt great recently, eating well, sleeping well, and experiencing no discomfort.

“Give me some water; I want to drink some.”

Upon hearing this, Chenglei steered the motorcycle to the side, stopped, unscrewed the water bottle cap, and then handed it to Jiang Xia.

He could have easily ridden the motorcycle with one hand, freeing the other to give Jiang Xia the water bottle.

But he still found a safe spot, stopped the motorcycle, and waited for her to finish drinking.

Jiang Xia finished her water and handed the water bottle back to him.

Chenglei took it, noticing the water bottle’s weight had halved. “Very thirsty?”

Jiang Xia: “Not thirsty, but we’ll probably have an ultrasound in a bit! I guess the baby is still small now, so I’ll probably need to hold my bladder for the ultrasound.”

Chenglei genuinely didn’t know this. “Then should you drink a bit more?”

Jiang Xia only had a vague idea, as she had heard colleagues mention it before. “No need. We won’t get a scan immediately at the hospital, and I don’t know if we’ll have to queue.”

“Probably not needed.” However, Chenglei was still worried Jiang Xia might have to hold it for too long, so he started the motorcycle and turned to look at Jiang Xia. “Are you seated properly? I’m driving.”

“Yes, I’m seated properly.”

Chenglei started the motorcycle.

Fifteen minutes later, Gao Jie smiled at the two and said, “I’m ninety percent sure it’s triplets. But let’s take you for an ultrasound to confirm! Do you urgently need to pee now?”

Jiang Xia nodded, “A little.”

Gao Jie stood up and personally led Jiang Xia into the ultrasound room.

Chapter 383: Confirmed

The ultrasound room happened to be empty, so Gao Jie pulled Jiang Xia inside.

Chenglei asked, “Can I come in and watch?”

Gao Jie glanced at him with a smile. “Come on in!”

A few minutes later, Jiang Xia was lying on the examination bed.

Chenglei held Jiang Xia’s hand, his eyes wide and unblinking as he stared at the display screen.

It was just a fuzzy, gray blur.

Where was the baby?

Jiang Xia also turned her head to look, but she couldn’t make sense of it either. There were only black, white, and gray images shifting around.

Gao Jie pointed to three black dots. “It’s only the seventh week of pregnancy, so they are still just gestational sacs.”

The ultrasound doctor measured the sizes. “There are three gestational sacs—one large and two small. One is three centimeters, while the other two are roughly the same size, both around two centimeters.”

Chenglei stared intensely, trying his best to memorize the children’s appearance and size. “Is it normal for there to be such a big difference?”

Jiang Xia’s neck was getting a bit tired from looking, so she stopped watching after a while. Hearing his question, she also looked toward Gao Jie.

Gao Jie explained, “It’s normal. Since you’re having triplets, it’s expected for them to vary in size. Just like how some children are chubby and some are thin. Furthermore, a single embryo at seven weeks usually grows to about three centimeters, but two centimeters is also common depending on the mother’s constitution. So, all three gestational sacs are developing normally.”

Chenglei breathed a sigh of relief.

Gao Jie took a stack of rose-red coarse straw paper and handed it to Jiang Xia. “Just wipe it clean.”

Jiang Xia reached out to take it, but Chenglei had already grabbed it. He began helping her wipe away the transparent gel from her abdomen.

Jiang Xia pulled her clothes up a bit higher and let him go about his work.

The two doctors watched without blinking. At this point, refusing him or making a fuss would only make things more move awkward.

Since Chenglei usually took care of her with such meticulous attention, Jiang Xia felt a bit shy but remained composed.

After wiping it clean, Chenglei helped Jiang Xia tidy her clothes, assisted her into a sitting position, and then knelt down to put her shoes on for her.

The two OB-GYN doctors were seeing such an attentive man for the first time.

Gao Jie watched with a knowing smile.

The ultrasound doctor smiled at Jiang Xia and said, “Your husband is quite good; he’s a keeper! He’s someone you can truly entrust your life to.”

Gao Jie joked, “It’s a bit too early to say that. A lifetime is very long; he’ll have to keep up the hard work.”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Did you hear that? Life is long, so you have to keep working hard.”

Chenglei didn’t say anything, but he squeezed her hand in response.

After thanking the ultrasound doctor, Chenglei and Jiang Xia followed Gao Jie back to the area outside her office.

Gao Jie said to Chenglei, “Your wife is fine and the babies are doing well. Are you satisfied now? Come in, let me check your pulse to see if that medicine has been effective.”

Chenglei refused immediately. “No need. Thank you, Dr. Gao. You’re busy, so we’ll be heading out now.”

With that, Chenglei pulled Jiang Xia and hurried away.

There were no secrets from Dr. Gao, and Chenglei was afraid she would ask exactly how he had been “venting his fire!”

After leaving the hospital, Jiang Xia felt a bit sleepy and planned to go back to the Jiang family home to nap for half an hour before heading back to the village.

Before sleeping, Jiang Xia suddenly craved peaches. “When we head back later, let’s check the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to see if they have any peaches. I suddenly really want some.”

Chenglei held her as she slept so the bed would warm up faster. He kissed her forehead. “Mhm. I’ll go buy some once you’ve fallen asleep. Go to sleep now; you can eat them when you wake up.”

Jiang Xia closed her eyes contentedly and fell asleep in less than a minute.

Chenglei waited a few minutes until she was sound asleep and the bed was warm. Then, he got up, cautiously dressed himself, and went out to buy peaches.

However, peaches were not in season. He couldn’t find any at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, so he went to the department store to see if they had any canned yellow peaches.

Chenglei bought a whole case of canned yellow peaches along with some other snacks. While at the department store, he spotted a red wool overcoat. Thinking Jiang Xia would look beautiful in red, he bought it. He also bought a black turtleneck sweater and a plaid wool skirt to go with it; the plaid had hints of red and black, matching perfectly.

This single outfit wiped out her entire translation fee.

By the time Chenglei returned to the Jiang house, Jiang Xia had just woken up. She ate two pieces of canned yellow peach and left with him, feeling satisfied.

Just as the two of them left the city center, they ran into Zhou Guohua, who was rushing over on a tractor.

Zhou Guohua stopped the tractor and asked, “Is Xiao Wan okay?”

Chenglei also stopped his motorcycle. “She went to the City First Hospital. Go ask there. I’m taking Xiao Xia to see the doctor as well, so I don’t know how she’s doing.”

“Alright, thanks!” Zhou Guohua thanked him and hurriedly drove the tractor away.

Chenglei started the motorcycle and left as well.

By the time the couple returned to the village, it was nearly five o’clock.

As they passed the pier, Jiang Xia saw a tractor parked under the large tree in front of the production team office.

A crowd of people surrounded the tractor, especially children.

There was also a long line of people holding rice and bags, waiting their turn.

Jiang Xia saw a machine on the tractor emitting smoke, constantly spitting out puffed rice rolls. A man was breaking the puffed rice rolls into sections and stuffing them into a brand-new woven sack.

A woven sack was spread on the ground nearby, topped with a basin of rice, some saccharin, and other ingredients.

“Is someone here making puffed rice rolls? I want some too. Stop the bike for a second,” Jiang Xia said immediately.

“Let’s go home first. I’ll bring some rice back to wait in line in a bit.”

Jiang Xia countered, “Stop first. I’ll go get in line. Can’t I just give them money instead of bringing rice?”

Chenglei stopped the bike, turned around, and blocked the eager woman from getting off. “It’ll be more fragrant and delicious if we bring some corn from home to add to it.”

There were so many people making a racket.

Jiang Xia noticed they were using saccharin. Realizing it wasn’t good for the body, she said, “Alright then, go home and get it. I’ll go buy some white sugar.”

Chenglei replied, “I’ll come back in a bit. The owner won’t leave that quickly. If I come back later, I might not even have to wait in line.”

“Okay! Let’s go home first! I’ll come back with you later.” She had never seen puffed rice rolls being made before!

Seeing how curious she was, Chenglei agreed. “Mhm.”

The motorcycle soon arrived at their front door.

The newly bought tractor was parked outside the courtyard gate, and the ground was covered in red paper scraps from exploded firecrackers.

One could imagine how festive and lively it had been.

A group of children was playing in the trailer of the tractor, jumping around with puffed rice rolls in their hands.

When the children saw them return, they cheered happily.

“Auntie, Uncle! There are puffed rice rolls! Grandma had them made!”

“Auntie, here!”

Jiang Xia smiled and said, “I won’t have any, you guys enjoy. Be careful, don’t fall off the tractor!”

“We’ll be careful!”

After giving the children a warning, Jiang Xia entered the courtyard to wash her hands.

As Chenglei parked the motorcycle, he said, “Mom, I’m going to go get some puffed rice rolls made.”

Mother Zhou and Tian Caihua were in the kitchen making Wozai noodles. Hearing him, Mother Zhou walked out and replied, “I’ve already had them made. I got three large woven sacks full; they’re all in the living room.”

She had planned for one sack per son.

Chenglei said, “Xiao Xia wants to eat some. I’ll take some corn and go get another sack made.”

Upon hearing this, Mother Zhou immediately said, “Oh, Xiao Xia likes them? Then get two more sacks made. If you pack this stuff well, it can last for a month or two.”

Two sacks wasn’t actually that much. With so many children in the house, a half-sack would disappear quickly if everyone had one or two pieces a day.

Chenglei gathered the rice and corn to go make the snacks. “Should I just go by myself?”

“Sure.” Seeing the busy scene in the kitchen, Jiang Xia didn’t go with him. Instead, she headed into the kitchen to see if there was anything she could do to help.

Chapter 384: Opportunity

Jiang Xia walked into the kitchen.

The entire room was filled with steam.

Tian Caihua was currently cutting the rice skins into strips, which looked just like rice noodles.

“Mom, are you making rice noodles?”

“In my hometown, we call them Wozai noodles. They’re similar to rice noodles, both made from rice slurry.”

“Is there anything I can help with?”

Mother Zhou lifted the lid of the large iron pot, and another surge of steam billowed out. “No, there’s too much steam in here; don’t come in. You’ve been out all day—are you tired? If you are, go back to the room and rest for a bit. It’ll be ready soon; no help needed.”

“I’m not tired. I took a nap at my parents’ house before coming home.” Jiang Xia saw a round, holeless bamboo tray inside the iron pot, with a thin, transparent layer of rice skin steaming on top.

As the steam surged and the lid was lifted, the rice skin puffed up into a bubble from the pressure.

Mother Zhou quickly lifted the bamboo tray from the pot and stood it upright against the edge of the stove, resting it in a large wooden basin on the floor to stabilize it.

Two other bamboo trays were already leaning against the side of the stove, both holding rice skins.

“We’re having seafood tossed noodles tonight. Do you want noodle soup, tossed noodles, or stir-fried noodles?” By Mother Zhou’s feet was a wooden bucket containing a small amount of white rice slurry that was nearly gone. She picked up another empty bamboo tray, ladled a bit of slurry onto it, and rotated it with both hands to ensure the slurry covered the entire tray evenly before placing it into the large iron pot to steam.

It only took a minute or two.

“Let’s have tossed noodles!” Jiang Xia said. “I’ll handle the seafood.”

Mother Zhou replied, “No need, it’s almost done. I can do it.”

“The seafood tossed noodles Mom makes are delicious. You’ve come at the right time to try them,” Tian Caihua said as she finished cutting three sheets of rice skin. She then picked up a bamboo tray and carefully peeled off the rice skin that had already cooled.

Once she had peeled about a quarter of it, she used a rolling pin to catch the edge and then carefully rolled the entire sheet off the tray intact.

She placed it onto an empty round bamboo tray and folded it into thirds like a quilt, making it easier to cut into strips later.

When she finished, she moved on to peel the next sheet.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law worked in perfect harmony—one steaming the rice skins, the other peeling them.

Jiang Xia stepped forward to help with the cutting and took the finished noodle strips to hang them on bamboo poles to dry.

The scraps were too short and difficult to hang, so they would be served for dinner that night.

When A-Lei arrived at the entrance of the production team to wait in line for puffed rice rolls, the villagers gathered around him and asked, “A-Lei, didn’t your mom already make three big bags of puffed rice rolls? Is that still not enough?”

“Mhm.”

“A-Lei, are you using granulated sugar for these? Tsk, you’re really splurging!”

“A-Lei is so capable and earns so much money. It’s just a bit of sugar; it’s not like he can’t afford it. Why wouldn’t he splurge?”

A tiny amount of saccharin is usually enough, whereas granulated sugar isn’t as sweet, so you have to use more, and it’s much more expensive. No one else was willing to buy it to make puffed rice rolls.

If Jiang Xia hadn’t mentioned it, A-Lei wouldn’t have thought of using granulated sugar either.

“A-Lei, how much did your family’s new tractor cost? Can you lend it to my family to plow our fields after the New Year?”

As soon as those words were spoken, a crowd of people rushed forward to borrow the tractor.

“A-Lei, lend it to my family to plow our fields too! Put me second in line!”

“A-Lei, my family needs it too, I’m third!”

“I’m fourth! A-Lei, I want to borrow it too, I’m fourth!”

…

An hour ago, when Big Brother drove the new tractor back, it caused a sensation throughout the entire pier.

A tractor!

Every household dreamed of owning one.

It could pull fish to sell, haul grain, carry people, and plow fields—how convenient was that? Who wouldn’t want one?

For the villagers, it was a much more practical vehicle than a motorcycle.

The villagers had already been surrounding Big Brother, Tian Caihua, and the new tractor for a long while, admiring the rarity.

Upon learning that A-Lei had bought it, there was another wave of sighs and exclamations.

He was just too rich!

A-Lei knew the villagers would swarm him, which was why he hadn’t felt comfortable letting Jiang Xia stand in line for the puffed rice rolls.

He only gave one reply: “Sure. It’ll be two yuan per mu of land.”

Instantly, many villagers stopped mentioning borrowing it. A few stingy and gossipy ones couldn’t help themselves:

“You’re charging money?”

“Two yuan per mu? That’s way too expensive!”

“A-Lei, can’t you make it a bit cheaper? Two yuan a mu is too much. How about two yuan a day?”

…

A-Lei replied, “Renting the tractor to plow costs twenty yuan a day for eight hours. That doesn’t include fuel; you provide your own fuel.”

A-Lei didn’t intend to make this money himself; he didn’t have the time.

When the time came, if Big Brother was free, he’d let Big Brother do it. If Big Brother wasn’t free, they would find someone else.

He had bought the tractor for the family’s convenience in delivering fried fish to the city, not specifically to make money.

Someone whispered, “The richer they get, the stingier they become. We all have the surname Zhou, we’re all brothers, and yet he wants to charge money just to borrow a tractor.”

“And he’s charging so much! Two yuan a mu—we might as well wait in line to use the production team’s.”

…

Zhou Li walked out from the production team’s office. Hearing several women, known for being lazy and gossipy, gathered to criticize A-Lei, she said, “Isn’t it normal to charge money? Someone spent three or four thousand yuan to buy a tractor; are they supposed to let you use it for free? Obviously, they bought it to earn money.”

“If it were free, everyone would be at their door to borrow it, and they’d even lose money on fuel! Besides, if it breaks, whose fault is it? Maintenance and repairs cost money too! Who’s going to pay for that?”

After Zhou Li finished speaking, she walked over to A-Lei and said with a smile, “A-Lei, thank you for calling the ambulance to take Xiao Wan to the hospital. When Guohua arrived at the hospital, he wanted to bring Wen Wan home, but he didn’t expect her to nearly faint the moment she stepped out of the building.”

“He just called back to say she has to stay overnight. The doctor said she’s severely malnourished. That child is vomiting so badly, yet she still dared to run off to the city by herself, just causing trouble for everyone. What if she had fainted on the road? We’re lucky she ran into you today. Sorry for the trouble!”

A-Lei replied, “It’s good that she’s alright.”

“That child’s morning sickness has been terrible lately. She vomits everything she eats; she can’t keep anything down, which led to the malnutrition. Guohua and my sister-in-law have been doing everything they can to get her to eat.”

A-Lei didn’t say anything, turning his head to look out at the sea.

Seeing that A-Lei wasn’t speaking, Zhou Li immediately changed the subject. “I heard Xiao Xia is expecting too. Is her health alright? Is she having any morning sickness?”

“She’s doing okay. None for now.”

“That’s good. Carrying a child is incredibly hard for a woman. In the beginning, the morning sickness is enough to make you feel like you’re dying. As the belly gets bigger, bending over, walking, and even breathing become difficult. In the later stages, your feet swell, and you can’t eat or sleep peacefully…”

A-Lei remained silent, but in his heart, he hoped Jiang Xia wouldn’t have to go through all that.

Zhou Li was skilled at reading people. Seeing that A-Lei seemed to be listening, she immediately continued sharing, “The closer it gets to the birth, the harder it is. And when it finally comes time to deliver, the pain is agonizing! That throbbing pain can practically take your life. When I had my first, I was in labor for two days and a night before the baby came! Even if it hurts, you can’t scream too loudly; you have to save your strength. If you scream too much, you won’t have the energy to push later…”

“After the baby is born, the post-birth confinement is even worse. The baby cries, you can’t sleep well, and if you don’t rest properly, your health suffers. It’s easy to end up with chronic ailments from a poor recovery…”

…

Zhou Li kept talking until A-Lei finished getting his puffed rice rolls and left.

Zhou Li watched A-Lei walk away carrying the two large bags of puffed rice rolls, thinking that she should bring some fruit over tomorrow to thank Jiang Xia in person.

She had been worried about not having a chance to speak with Jiang Xia, but since they had helped Wen Wan today, she finally had her opportunity.

Chapter 385: No Good Deed Without an Ulterior Motive

For dinner, they had seafood tossed noodles.

Mother Zhou had made it. A thick, rich sauce coated bright red shrimp, sturdy crab legs, cute squid rings, open-mouthed flower clams, long sand worms, tiny octopuses, plump snail meat, and small abalones carved to look like gold ingots… Every kind of seafood was layered over the white rice noodles.

It was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate!

Jiang Xia picked up a mouthful of noodles with her chopsticks and tucked in.

The noodles were smooth and slippery. As she brought them to her face, she could smell the delicate fragrance of the rice. The sauce was thick, savory, and perfectly seasoned. Although it looked dark, it was a special sauce Mother Zhou had made by simmering shrimp heads into a broth; it wasn’t overly salty, just incredibly fragrant.

The shrimp was springy, the flower clams were sweet and fresh, the octopus was crisp, and the abalone was firm…

Delicious!

Absolutely delicious!

A true delicacy of the human world!

Unparalleled!

The seafood noodles Jiang Xia had made before were light, preserving the raw, original sweetness of the seafood.

But this dish Mother Zhou made had a much richer depth of flavor.

Chenglei’s bowl had added spice, while Jiang Xia’s and the children’s were mild.

When Jiang Xia was halfway through, she tried a bite from Chenglei’s spicy bowl. The spicy version was also amazing!

However, the heat was quite dominant, masking much of the seafood’s natural sweetness.

But then again, spice in itself was an incomparable delight.

So, both versions were wonderful!

“Mom, you could open a shop just with this one bowl of seafood tossed noodles!”

Mother Zhou smiled. “Is it really that good?”

“It’s incredible!”

Jiang Xia once again ate until she was stuffed.

Chenglei took her for a walk along the beach to help her digest.

By the time the two of them reached the pier, Jiang Xia was finally starting to feel more comfortable.

Chenglei was going out to sea tomorrow, so he needed to get to bed early. Just as Jiang Xia was about to head back, a pair of headlights cut through the dark as a tractor approached.

Jiang Xia glanced over and saw Zhou Guohua driving the tractor, bringing Wen Wan back.

There were no streetlights, but by the light of the tractor’s lamps, Zhou Guohua recognized Chenglei and Jiang Xia. He asked, “Coming to the pier so late? Are you planning to go out to sea tonight?”

“No, we’re just taking a walk after dinner,” Chenglei replied.

Zhou Guohua privately thought they really had nothing better to do if they were just wandering around after eating. What was the point of walking? If it were him, he’d only want to get back to bed; he was exhausted from the day’s work!

He added, “Thanks for today. If Xiao Wan had fainted halfway home, it would have been a real problem.”

“Don’t mention it. It was the right thing to do.”

“Did Wen Wan get a check-up? Is she alright?” Jiang Xia asked.

“She did. The doctor said she’s malnourished and fainted due to low blood sugar. This past month, she’s been vomiting everything she eats—sometimes she even throws up water. She probably just went too long without food.”

“You should be careful when you go out in the future. Don’t let her go too far alone; fainting like that is dangerous. It’s late, we’re heading home. You two should get back and rest soon too!”

Jiang Xia thought to herself that it was a good thing she’d noticed Wen Wan looked unwell and hadn’t given her a ride. If she had fainted halfway and fallen off the motorcycle, what would they have done?

“Yeah.” Zhou Guohua didn’t dare risk it again either.

Wen Wan pursed her lips. Such a hypocrite!

If they hadn’t refused to give her a ride home and sent her to the hospital instead, she wouldn’t have fainted at the hospital in the first place!

If she had just taken their motorcycle home, she would have arrived, eaten, and been lying down by the time she fainted. She wouldn’t have starved until she collapsed.

Jiang Xia didn’t pay them any more mind, taking Chenglei’s arm as they walked back.

After they had been walking for about half an hour, Chenglei asked, “Still feel full?”

“Not anymore.”

“Are you tired? Want me to carry you the rest of the way?”

“Sure.”

So, Chenglei carried her on his back, walking slowly toward home.

The next morning, Chenglei got up at four thirty to go out to sea.

Zhou Kangping officially started work today as well.

Jiang Xia didn’t go out to sea; she stayed home and slept until seven. After breakfast, she began her translation work.

Mother Zhou had pushed the sewing machine to the doorway of the main hall and was making monk-style baby shirts and open-crotch pants.

After translating for an hour and a half, Jiang Xia walked out to get a glass of water and stretch her legs.

She picked up the clothes Mother Zhou was making and asked, “Mom, aren’t these a bit big?”

Mother Zhou replied, “I’ve already prepared a few smaller ones. Children grow fast; it’s better to make them a bit large.”

“That makes sense.”

Just then, Zhou Li walked in carrying a piece of pork belly and a hand basket.

“Auntie, you’re already starting on the baby clothes?”

Mother Zhou saw her hands full of things and immediately felt that this couldn’t be good!

She asked, “Are you just getting back from the market?”

Zhou Li smiled. “No, I came over specifically to thank Xiao Xia.”

Jiang Xia looked at her, confused.

Mother Zhou also looked toward Jiang Xia.

Zhou Li smiled and set the things down. “Xiao Wan wasn’t feeling well yesterday. It’s a good thing Xiao Xia and A-Lei sent her to the hospital.”

Jiang Xia: “…”

The person involved hadn’t even shown her face, yet Zhou Li was being so enthusiastic.

To be unusually kind for no reason was a sign of hidden motives!

“You’re being too polite. We just called an ambulance; we didn’t really help much.”

“It’s lucky you called that ambulance. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened if she’d fainted on the road.”

Mother Zhou was surprised. “She fainted?”

“She did! That girl is so careless, going all the way to the city by herself while she was feeling unwell…”

Zhou Li repeated the story she had told Chenglei the day before.

After chatting with Mother Zhou about childcare for a while, she pivoted to how difficult life was for women, and then eventually steered the conversation toward work.

Just as Jiang Xia was about to return to her room, Zhou Li seized the opportunity. “Women like Xiao Xia and Xiao Wan are so lucky. You’re educated, you can do translations, and you can make money at home. You don’t have to worry about a thing! Unlike me—I don’t even know when I might be laid off.”

Mother Zhou said, “But you have an iron rice bowl with the production team. What is there to fear?”

Zhou Li replied, “Haven’t you heard? The production teams are going to be reformed into village groups. Who knows if they’ll still need so many people then? I’m worried my job won’t be safe.”

Mother Zhou gasped. “Oh? That can’t be right, can it?”

“Why not? Now that everyone doesn’t have to earn work points anymore and the land has been parceled out to households, what use is a production team? Xiao Xia, don’t you agree? Have you heard any news?”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “I don’t know, I haven’t heard anything.”

Zhou Li didn’t believe her for a second. she continued, “Xiao Xia, if you hear any news, you have to tell me! My whole family is counting on my salary to live! Are you sure you haven’t heard anything from your father?”

Jiang Xia said, “My father never talks about work at home.”

“I heard it’s for real! Xiao Xia, you know I’ve married out, so I’m not technically a member of this village anymore. If the production team is gone and it’s just a village group, what will I do? Xiao Xia, you have to help me! I’ll definitely make it worth your while, I won’t let you help for nothing!”

Jiang Xia replied, “You’re overthinking things. I haven’t heard anything, and besides, I don’t have the power to help you. I think you shouldn’t worry so much; maybe things won’t be as bad as you imagine. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Jiang Xia knew that even if the production team was abolished, it would just be reformed into a village committee or village group; jobs wouldn’t just vanish.

Zhou Li, however, felt that Jiang Xia was refusing to help with such a simple matter.

What did she mean she didn’t have the power?

If she didn’t have the power, who did?

It was just a matter of saying the word!

She simply didn’t want to help.

Chapter 386: Fever

Zhou Li harbored some resentment in her heart, but she didn’t let it show on her face. She knew she had been too impatient this time. However, the rumors were growing louder and louder, and she was afraid that if she didn’t speak up now, it would be too late.

“You’re right. Nothing is set in stone yet, so what am I worried about? When an official notice actually comes down, Xiao Xia, please remember to say a word for me! I’ll be going now; I still have to go back and clean the office.”

After saying that, Zhou Li headed for the door.

Jiang Xia quickly called out to her, picking up the items Zhou Li had brought and trying to return them. “Wait!”

Mother Zhou took them, chased after Zhou Li, and blocked her path to press the items back into her hands. “When neighbors come over to visit, there’s no need to bring things. Please take these back! We have everything at home. Look, there’s a piece of meat hanging in the kitchen, and the cupboards are full of food. We can’t even finish it all.”

“No need for that. This is just a thank you for Xiao Xia helping Wen Wan…”

Jiang Xia added, “Helping Wen Wan was truly just a simple gesture; we just made a phone call for an ambulance. I’d feel ashamed to accept these things. If I did, people would talk behind my back. If you don’t take them, I’ll personally deliver them back to your house in a moment, and I might not dare let you in the next time you visit.”

“That’s right. Between neighbors, we shouldn’t do this sort of thing. We help if we can, and if we can’t, there’s nothing for it,” Mother Zhou said, blocking her and stuffing the items into her hands.

Their refusal was very clear, and Zhou Li wasn’t thick-skinned enough to ignore it.

Since they weren’t willing to help, there was no point in giving these gifts. If she took them back to feed the dog, even the dog would wag its tail at her!

They had been neighbors for so many years; they wouldn’t even help with a simple favor—how could they not feel embarrassed?

Despite her thoughts, she took the items back and said with a smile, “I already brought them and you still won’t take them, honestly! I’ll come by to play again when I’m free next time!”

After Zhou Li left, Great-Grandma and He Xinghuan arrived.

He Xinghuan handed a few sheets of paper to Jiang Xia. “Xiao Xia, this is the list of items for the school convenience store. Take a look and see what else we need to stock?”

Jiang Xia took the papers and asked with a smile, “Is the date picked? Are we ready to stock up?”

Great-Grandma said cheerfully, “We picked the sixth for the opening. The shop has been cleaned, and the display cases and shelves have been bought. Since there’s still a month until winter break and the rent is already paid, we figured it’s best to open as soon as possible. We’ll earn what we can, day by day, month by month.”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Indeed. Maybe you’ll earn enough for the New Year’s expenses.”

She looked over the list carefully. There was a wide variety of snacks, and though there were many typos, Jiang Xia understood them. They were all common convenience store snacks, with the retail and wholesale prices listed.

Most were very cheap, priced under 0.2 jiao. There were also school supplies like notebooks, erasers, pencils, ballpoint pens, and rulers—all priced so that even a child with a little pocket money could afford them.

The most expensive item on the procurement list was instant noodles, retailing for 0.5 yuan or 0.7 yuan per pack.

For children, instant noodles were a luxury.

However, instant noodles still sold; some parents didn’t have time to make breakfast for their children, so they would give them 0.5 yuan to buy a pack of instant noodles.

Jiang Xia saw that the inventory was quite comprehensive. She suggested, “You could add puffed rice rolls. I think those are quite tasty. Also, the small fried fish we make ourselves. I can order some small packaging bags later—put a few fish in each and sell them for 0.05 yuan a pack. I bet many kids would buy them.”

He Xinghuan laughed. “Right, we have to add puffed rice rolls and small dried fish. Kids love those; I completely forgot.”

Hearing this, Great-Grandma said, “I can also make some things like pickled radishes and pickled papayas to sell. One cent per piece—surely people would buy that?”

Jiang Xia nodded. “You can. The village convenience store has them too. In fact, as long as it’s food, people will buy it. You can start by making one jar to test the waters and see if many people buy it.”

Great-Grandma agreed, “Right, can’t make too much at once; it doesn’t keep for long.”

…

The four of them sat together, making children’s clothes while discussing the convenience store business. After an hour of chatting, they agreed to have dinner at Great-Grandma’s house on opening day to celebrate. Then, Great-Grandma and He Xinghuan left happily.

At noon, Jiang Xia and Mother Zhou made lunch together. Mother Zhou didn’t want Jiang Xia’s help, so Jiang Xia only handled the fire, while Mother Zhou did almost everything else.

Tian Caihua had gone out to sea, so Guangzong, Yaozu, and their brothers were also eating here.

When Zhou Wenzu saw such a lavish lunch, he couldn’t help but say, “Auntie, you should eat at home every day! Don’t go out to sea. Usually, when you aren’t home, Grandma only gives us steamed fried fish.”

Mother Zhou glared at him. “Can’t even a meal stop your mouth? Is the fried fish not good? If it wasn’t good, why do you eat so much of it every day?”

Usually, when it was just Mother Zhou and the children at home, she would only steam some fried fish, make a mixed fish stew, and stir-fry some vegetables for a simple meal.

But with Jiang Xia home, Mother Zhou went to the pier and bought some fresh seafood, especially since Jiang Xia needed the extra nourishment during her pregnancy.

She had prepared oil-braised prawns, steamed seabass, steamed egg custard, fried fish with black beans, vegetables, and a silver perch and tofu soup.

Jiang Xia said with a smile, “Usually only Grandma is home, and she has to do all the housework by herself. How would she have time to make so many dishes? You boys should help Grandma with the chores more often. When she isn’t so tired, she can make more dishes for you.”

Even when Mother Zhou didn’t go out to sea, staying home was not easy at all; there were many household chores, and they were all physically demanding.

Now, Jiang Xia could only help with the light work, like tending the fire, washing vegetables, or chopping vegetable leaves to cook the pig feed.

The children laughingly agreed, each scrambling to say they had helped with chores, like herding the geese or the cattle… Jiang Xia praised them all.

Zhou Zhou suddenly asked, “Auntie, what is ‘pig jowl’?”

Jiang Xia was confused. “What pig jowl?”

Mother Zhou frowned upon hearing this. “Where did you hear that?”

“I heard a classmate say his younger brother has pig jowl disease. His face is swollen like a pig’s head.”

Jiang Xia guessed what it was as soon as she heard it—it was likely mumps.

Mother Zhou warned, “Stay away from that classmate! Pig jowl is contagious. Which village is that classmate from?”

Zhou Wenzu replied, “I know, he’s from Big Rock Village.”

Big Rock Village was relatively far from their village. Mother Zhou said, “Don’t go running off to Big Rock Village to play lately! And don’t play too much with the students from there, okay? Otherwise, you’ll turn into pig heads too.”

The children were frightened and nodded quickly.

Jiang Xia also cautioned them, “At school, don’t rub your eyes with your hands, and don’t touch your nose or mouth. When you get home, you must wash your hands before you eat, understand?”

“Understood!” None of them wanted to turn into pig heads.

Mother Zhou wasn’t particularly afraid of the children getting mumps, but she was terrified they would catch it and pass it to Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia couldn’t take many medicines right now, so it was best if she didn’t even catch a common cold or fever.

Fortunately, it would be Saturday in two days, and school would be out.

As it turned out, the children didn’t catch mumps, but on Friday night, the second branch of the family returned. In the middle of the night, Zhou Ying developed a fever.

Chapter 387: Mumps

Jiang Xia and Chenglei were sound asleep when a pounding came at their door.

Li Xiu娴 called out, “Fourth Brother! Xiao Xia!”

Jiang Xia and Chenglei were jolted awake.

In the dim light, Jiang Xia’s voice was heavy with sleep. “It’s Second Sister-in-law.”

“Mhm.” Chenglei sat up, holding the quilt down with one hand to keep the literal wind from drafting into the bed and chilling Jiang Xia. “Go back to sleep. I’ll go see what it is.”

Jiang Xia nodded.

Chenglei got out of bed and quickly dressed. Seeing the light already on in the main hall through the crack in the door, he didn’t turn on their bedroom light to avoid stinging Jiang Xia’s eyes.

Once dressed, he opened the door. “Second Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?”

“Yingying has a fever. Her body is burning up. We need to borrow your motorcycle to take her to the health clinic. Where are the keys?”

Luckily, she had been afraid her daughter would kick off the covers tonight and made her sleep with them. Otherwise, if she had slept with Zhou Zhou, they might not have known she was feverish.

Hearing this, Chenglei said, “I’ll go with Second Brother to take her.”

Li Xiu娴 immediately agreed. “Alright then. You go push the motorcycle out first while I go dress Yingying.”

“Mhm,” Chenglei grunted. He closed his bedroom door and, while pulling on his outdoor trousers, said to Jiang Xia, “Yingying has a fever. I’m going with Second Brother to take her into town. Go back to sleep, don’t wait up for me.”

“Okay. Be careful on the motorcycle. Put on another layer—wear your down jacket. The temperature is low at night.”

Chenglei had originally intended to grab a thin jacket, but after hearing her, he took the down jacket instead. “I’m wearing it. Don’t worry, get some sleep.”

“Mhm.”

Chenglei finished dressing, grabbed the motorcycle keys from the chest of drawers, and walked out, closing the door behind him.

In the hall, Mother Zhou had also been woken up. She went into the opposite room to check on Zhou Ying, worried the girl had contracted Pig Jowl Disease.

Even if it wasn’t that, fevers were highly contagious. In the past, if one of the four brothers—Guangzong or Yaozu—got a fever, basically all four of them would end up with it. Sometimes even the adults caught it.

Seeing Chenglei dressed, she said, “Don’t you go. Let your Second Brother and his wife go. Yingying might have Pig Jowl Disease. Don’t let her pass it to you, or you’ll pass it to Xiao Xia. Xiao Xia absolutely cannot get Pig Jowl Disease right now.”

Chenglei remembered that Dr. Gao had warned Jiang Xia to stay warm and avoid getting sick or feverish, as it could easily affect the fetus’s development.

“Alright. I’ll just push the motorcycle out first.”

Chenglei went to move the bike.

Just then, Zhou Chengsen came out carrying Zhou Ying.

Due to the high fever, Zhou Ying’s face was flushed deep red.

Mother Zhou said to her son, “A-Sen, Yingying might have Pig Jowl Disease. You and Xiao Xian take her to the health clinic. I’ve told A-Lei not to go. Xiao Xia’s situation is delicate right now, and she can’t take medicine. If Yingying really does have Pig Jowl Disease, don’t come back home for these next few days. Stay in town until she’s better. Zhou Zhou and Xiao Xia are both at home; it’ll be a mess if you infect them. If you both need to work and need me to look after Yingying, just call. I’ll go to town to take care of her.”

Li Xiu娴’s face instantly darkened.

The doctor hadn’t even seen her yet, but she was already declaring it was mumps and telling them not to come home. Was this any way for a grandmother to act?

Zhou Chengsen understood. With children and a pregnant woman in the house, it would be bad for anyone to catch it.

Moreover, he had heard Mother Zhou mention before that Jiang Xia’s constitution was weak. Every time she came back from the sea, she would run a fever at night, which was why Fourth Brother had found sea cucumbers to build up her health.

Besides, he hadn’t planned on bothering anyone else anyway. A-Lei had to go out to sea tomorrow.

He said, “Fine. A-Xian and I can handle Yingying. We won’t come back tonight. Make sure to lock the courtyard gate after we leave. If Yingying has mumps, I won’t come back tomorrow either. We’ll return once she’s recovered.”

He then turned to Li Xiu娴. “Put on a thick coat and hold Yingying. I’ll drive the motorcycle.”

Li Xiu娴 went back into the room to put on her coat without a word.

Chenglei walked back in and asked, “Do you know how to drive it?”

“Yes, I learned a long time ago.”

Chenglei handed him the keys. “Be careful on the road. No need to rush.”

Li Xiu娴 emerged wearing a thick coat.

Zhou Chengsen took the keys. “Alright, you guys go back to sleep. We’re taking Yingying to the doctor now.”

The couple hurriedly left on the motorcycle to take Zhou Ying for medical attention.

Chenglei washed his hands and face and changed his clothes before getting back into bed.

“Does Yingying have mumps?” Jiang Xia had overheard their conversation.

“The left side of her face looked a bit swollen to me. Don’t worry, many children get it. Go to sleep. Second Brother and his wife will look after her.” Chenglei pulled her into his arms.

“Mhm.”

Chenglei had to go out to sea tomorrow, and it was currently the hour when one is most drowsy. Both of them quickly fell back asleep.

In Town.

By the time Zhou Chengsen and Li Xiu娴 had finished at the clinic and returned home, it was nearly three in the morning.

After feeding his daughter her medicine, Zhou Chengsen carried her to the bedroom, laid her on the bed, helped her out of her coat, and tucked her in. He then found an inkless pen and wrote the character for “Tiger” upside down on his daughter’s face.

When his little nephew was young and had mumps, Chengsen had seen his mother do the same thing. His mother had reminded him to do it tonight, saying it would help her recover faster.

Li Xiu娴 watched this and sneered, “You actually believe in that?”

“What’s there to believe or not believe? When Wenzu had mumps as a kid, my mother did this, and the swelling went down the next day.”

While it was a bit superstitious, there was no harm in listening to the elders’ words, especially since it wasn’t like he was using the wrong medicine.

“True. Your mother’s mouth is practically consecrated. She said Yingying had mumps, and sure enough, she has mumps.”

Zhou Chengsen shot her a glance. “Why are you being so sarcastic? Last time my colleague’s son had mumps and I told you about it, didn’t you say there were quite a few kids at the school with it lately? This disease is contagious. The village school probably has cases too. Isn’t it normal for my mother to guess that?”

Leaving it at that, he went to the bathroom to wash up and then returned to the room to sleep.

After the ordeal half the night, he was exhausted. Just as he was about to drift off, Li Xiu娴 got into bed and nudged him. “Are you going back to go out to sea tomorrow?”

Zhou Chengsen: “I’m not going. How can I go when Yingying has a fever? I’ll go next week.”

“Yingying has the fever, not you. Why can’t you go out to sea? I’ll be home to take care of her.”

Another week’s wait! That would mean the boat they bought would have been sitting idle for three weeks!

In three weeks, they had only earned a dozen or so yuan!

Hadn’t he heard Tian Caihua saying tonight that Chenglei had been earning over a thousand yuan every single day he went out lately?

Others had long since earned back the cost of their boat, while they hadn’t even made a fraction of it!

Zhou Chengsen: “I’m afraid I might have caught mumps too. It would be trouble if I went back and infected them.”

Li Xiu娴: “Who’s ‘them’? Jiang Xia?”

Zhou Chengsen sat bolt upright. “What is wrong with you now?”

Li Xiu娴: “So what if she’s pregnant? Who hasn’t been pregnant before? Look at how nervous your mother is! Telling us not even to come back! Someone who didn’t know better would think your brother married a princess into the family, the way everyone has to cater to her.”

Zhou Chengsen retorted, “When you were pregnant with Yingying and Wenyao had chickenpox and a high fever, why did you hide? You didn’t stay then! And two years ago when Wenzu had mumps, why did you take Yingying and hide? You sure didn’t stick around then! Why did you run back to your parents’ house? You think no one could see how much you looked down on them back then?”

Li Xiu娴: “…”

“It’s okay when you do it, but not for anyone else. I don’t think Xiao Xia is a princess; I think you want to be the Empress Dowager!” Leaving those words behind, Zhou Chengsen got out of bed and went to sleep in the next room.

Li Xiu娴: “…”

Chapter 388: Isn’t Money Better?

Over the next few days, the weather was beautiful, with gentle breezes and bright sunshine. Chenglei went out to sea every day, leaving early and returning late.

The sun hadn’t even risen when he set out, and it had already finished its shift by the time he returned to port.

In the late afternoon, Mother Zhou went to the pier to receive the catch while Jiang Xia prepared dinner in the kitchen. Zhou Zhou was helping her tend the fire. Before they had entered the kitchen, the sky was still light; when Jiang Xia happened to glance out, it was already dark.

Neither Chenglei nor Mother Zhou had returned home yet.

These past two days, they had been heading out earlier and coming back later each day. They said they were sailing to more distant waters where the high-quality goods were more abundant.

It was almost seven o’clock when Chenglei rode his motorcycle back.

Jiang Xia went to meet him, reaching for the woven sack. “Why so late?”

Chenglei didn’t hand it to her. “It’s a bit heavy.”

“What’s in it?” Jiang Xia asked.

“Some sea snails and sea cucumbers. I dove to the seabed today and gathered some. The sea cucumbers took a bit longer to collect, which is why I’m late.” Chenglei got off the motorcycle and set the bag of sea cucumbers aside, intending to process them after dinner.

Processing sea cucumbers was quite a hassle.

At that moment, Mother Zhou and Tian Caihua also arrived back, pushing a flatbed cart.

Jiang Xia looked at the two woven sacks—one large and one small—on the cart.

“Are they all sea cucumbers?”

Tian Caihua laughed. “Yes, all sea cucumbers! And they’re all spiky sea cucumbers! When A-Lei went down today, he found a whole den of them. We really hit the motherlode!”

“We already sold one bag. These are to be taken home, dried, and kept for our own use. A-Lei picked out all the biggest and best ones to keep.”

As she spoke, Tian Caihua couldn’t help but want to crack open Chenglei’s skull to see if it was full of water!

If it were her, she would absolutely sell the best ones and keep the small, ugly ones for the family to eat. That’s how everyone in the village did it—you sell the quality goods for money and keep the subpar ones for yourself!

But not Chenglei. He brought all the best ones home.

She truly couldn’t understand it!

Tian Caihua couldn’t resist complaining to Jiang Xia: “I’m honestly fed up with your husband! You should talk to him and tell him not to be so wasteful! This stuff gets cooked, chewed up, and when it comes out the other end, isn’t it all just crap? Why not sell the ones with the best appearance and make more money? Whether they’re big or small, pretty or ugly, they look the same in your stomach and have the same effect! Isn’t money better than crap?”

Jiang Xia: “…”

Tian Caihua continued, “I also kept half a bag to occasionally nourish the kids and your Big Brother, but I kept the ugliest ones—the kind that wouldn’t sell or wouldn’t be worth much. The big bag A-Lei kept is huge and looks great. The price could be doubled! If he sold them, he’d make a thousand yuan—or at least nine hundred and ninety-nine! A thousand yuan! You could buy a stall with that! Honestly, just because they’re a bit ugly doesn’t mean they aren’t edible! You’ll still grow muscle if you eat the ugly ones. Once the ugly ones are in your mouth, don’t you have to chew them just the same? It’s like a man taking a wife; once the lights are out, it’s all the same…”

Jiang Xia: “…”

Faced with Tian Caihua’s non-stop chatter, Jiang Xia changed the subject. “Sister-in-law, are you going out to sea tomorrow?”

“Is A-Lei not going out tomorrow?” Tian Caihua asked.

“He’s going out for half a day in the morning, but not in the afternoon because the sofa is being delivered tomorrow.”

“The sofa is coming? Then we’ll only go out for half a day as well.”

“That works. Also, Great-Grandma’s convenience store is opening tomorrow morning. I plan to go check it out and wanted to ask if you’re going.”

Tian Caihua replied, “It’s not our family’s shop opening, so why would I go? I’m not going; I’m going out to sea!”

“Then Sister-in-law, you should head home and eat early. You have to go to sea tomorrow.”

“Right, I’ll head back now! I still have to clean the sea cucumbers tonight and get them ready for drying.” With that, Tian Caihua hurried away.

For dinner, Zhou Wenguang and Zhou Wenzong had already cooked at home; the two brothers were capable of doing many household chores. Sometimes, when their parents returned late from fishing, they would prepare the meal ahead of time.

Jiang Xia and the others also ate. After finishing, they began cleaning the sea cucumbers. Once gutted, they had to be rinsed repeatedly with fresh water to remove the internal organs and sand.

The drying process was very tedious. Mother Zhou would usually boil and wash them two or three times to dehydrate them, then salt-cure them once—also for the purpose of removing moisture. After the salt drew out the water, they had to be desalinated before they could finally be hung out to dry.

After drying for about ten days, if the sea cucumbers began to show salt patches, they had to be boiled, washed, and dried again.

In any case, it was extremely complicated. Moreover, since sea cucumbers contain so much water, 5 kg of fresh sea cucumbers only yields about 200g of dried ones. This was why dried sea cucumbers were much more expensive than fresh ones.

Jiang Xia finished the first stage of the process and went to bathe and sleep. She didn’t know exactly what time Mother Zhou and Chenglei finished their work.

When she woke up the next morning, Chenglei had already gone out to sea. After eating breakfast, Jiang Xia went to the town’s central primary school with He Xinghuan and Great-Grandma to help out.

Jiang Xia rode the motorcycle, carrying the other two with her.

Great-Grandpa had been worried the night before, so he had slept at the convenience store.

Classes hadn’t started yet when they arrived at the school.

The inside and outside of the convenience store were packed with students. These children had heard the school convenience store was opening today and had specifically asked their parents for pocket money to buy snacks.

Great-Grandpa was frantically busy, trying to manage making change while keeping an eye out to prevent any children from shoplifting.

The three women quickly stepped in to help.

With their assistance, Great-Grandpa finally breathed a sigh of relief. Having never done this kind of work before, he had truly been overwhelmed.

The four of them were busy for about twenty minutes until the first class was about to start.

The bell rang, and the last student, clutching a piece of lard candy he had just bought, rushed back to the classroom.

The convenience store was suddenly empty.

Great-Grandma asked excitedly, “Quick, count up how much we made.”

Great-Grandpa handed her the basket. “You count it! I need a drink of water!”

Although they had only been busy for about twenty minutes, Great-Grandpa was actually dripping with sweat. The mental strain had been too much.

Great-Grandma smiled as she took the money basket and began stacking the bills one by one to count them.

Most of them were one and two-cent notes, with quite a few ten and twenty-cent notes as well. Fifty-cent notes were relatively rare.

Great-Grandma waved for Jiang Xia to help her count.

Jiang Xia sat down and started counting money with Great-Grandma.

Meanwhile, He Xinghuan helped tidy up the goods the children had disarranged, taking inventory to see if anything had been stolen. She knew exactly how much stock had been put on the shelves since she had also come to help the day before.

With the two of them counting together, the money in the basket was soon tallied.

Jiang Xia added Great-Grandma’s count to her own, totaling seven yuan, fifty-seven cents.

Great-Grandpa had prepared two yuan in small change this morning for making change.

That meant they had sold five yuan and fifty-seven cents worth of goods.

Since the cost of the items sold was less than half the retail price, Jiang Xia calculated for a moment and said with a smile, “We probably made about three and a half yuan.”

He Xinghuan finished her inventory and said to Jiang Xia, “Xiao Xia, help me calculate if the money matches the stock.”

“Sure!” Jiang Xia replied.

He Xinghuan called out the number of items sold and their retail prices one by one, while Jiang Xia tallied them up.

In the end, they discovered they were missing twenty-three cents.

Great-Grandpa said dejectedly, “I was watching so closely. I didn’t expect I’d still miss something.”

At that time, he truly wished he had ten pairs of eyes—actually, even ten pairs wouldn’t have felt like enough; he wished his whole body were covered in eyes.

Great-Grandma said with a laugh, “Twenty-three cents? What kind of discrepancy is that? It’s possible we just gave the wrong change! It proves that most of the children are good kids.”

Chapter 389: Is It Really This Profitable?

Hearing Great-Grandma say this, Great-Grandpa also agreed. He smiled and said, “That’s true. I never expected opening a convenience store to be so profitable. This pays much better than working manual labor jobs.”

Great-Grandma’s face beamed with joy. “Doesn’t it? Before, I’d toil away for a whole day just to make two yuan. Now, we’ve made over three yuan after selling for only ten minutes.”

He Xinghuan added, “Didn’t we already know that doing business makes money? Selling small dried fish usually earns us more than manual labor too!”

Jiang Xia smiled and said, “Of course, doing business makes more money than working for someone else. However, you have to invest a large sum of money upfront, and if business is bad, you might even lose money. But you won’t have to worry about that with a convenience store in a school; there’s a fixed customer base. You might not make a massive fortune or get rich overnight, and getting your initial investment back might take some time, but it’s definitely better than working for others.”

To open this convenience store, Great-Grandpa had paid a full year’s rent in one go. Factoring in the stock, ordering shelves, and renovation, they had spent about one thousand yuan in total, which wasn’t too much.

Of that, the rent accounted for four hundred yuan—the rent was thirty yuan a month, paid annually, plus a fifty-yuan deposit.

In this era, not many people could afford to shell out one thousand yuan to open a convenience store.

Great-Grandma laughed. “Making over three yuan in ten minutes—how is that ‘not much’? It’s already a lot! We are more than satisfied.”

Great-Grandpa also said, “Exactly, I’m perfectly content too! There are still two recess periods and the time after school lets out this morning. And that’s not even counting the afternoon breaks. If we can make three yuan every ten minutes, we could earn nearly twenty yuan a day.”

Jiang Xia cautioned, “A large portion of the students already bought snacks just now, so there will probably be fewer people during the remaining recess periods. However, I expect there will be quite a crowd before classes start in the afternoon.”

Great-Grandpa chuckled. “True. When kids have two cents in their pockets, they can’t wait to spend it!”

Great-Grandma added, “I’d be very content if we could earn three to five yuan a day.”

“Yes, three to five yuan a day… I’d be happy with that too.”

…

As they talked, forty-five minutes passed quickly, and children began running into the convenience store one after another.

The four of them got busy again. Strictly speaking, only three of them were busy; Jiang Xia sat there, and when a child brought an item to her, she helped collect the money.

As expected, it wasn’t as crowded as it had been before school started.

Still, there were quite a few—about thirty or forty students in total.

The town’s elementary school was larger than the one in the village. It had five classes per grade, with about forty students in each class. With six grades, the school had a total of about 1,200 students. Those 1,200 students were their customer traffic. While it was impossible for every child to have pocket money every day, it was very likely that two or three hundred children had money to spend daily.

Many people in town had higher incomes than those in the village, so they were relatively more willing to give their children pocket money.

This was why Jiang Xia had suggested that Great-Grandpa open the store at the town’s school rather than the village’s.

The village school could certainly make money too, but it only had two classes per grade, meaning the customer traffic would be cut by more than half.

Besides, the town wasn’t far away. After school let out at noon, it only took ten minutes to bike home for lunch. A round trip took only half an hour, leaving enough time for a midday nap.

This ten-minute recess brought in over two yuan in sales, resulting in a profit of about one yuan.

During the second recess, even fewer children came to buy snacks, but there were still a dozen or so. They sold over thirty cents worth of goods, earning about twenty cents in profit.

Next came the time when school let out for lunch. The number of students increased again, and the convenience store was soon packed.

It took about twenty minutes before the students cleared out.

The four of them counted the money and reorganized the stock. This post-school rush had brought in over two yuan in sales, with a profit of about 1.5 yuan.

In one morning, they had earned about six yuan in profit.

Jiang Xia said, “Based on this morning’s sales, you should be able to earn about two hundred yuan a month. Since there are winter and summer breaks, I estimate it will take about a year to earn back your initial investment.”

Great-Grandma smiled. “That’s already very good! The main thing is that this job is easy; it’s perfect for old folks like us.”

Ten minutes of work followed by forty-five minutes of rest.

Of course, during those forty-five minutes, they still needed to sweep the floor, tidy the goods, and count the money. But compared to Great-Grandpa’s work building houses for people, this was truly easy labor, and it paid more.

After tidying up the shop, the four of them left the convenience store to go eat.

When they reached the school gate, they ran into Li Xiuxian and Zhou Ying, who were on their way home.

Upon seeing Jiang Xia, Zhou Ying shouted happily, “Auntie!”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Second Sister-in-law, Yingying, school’s out!”

Li Xiuxian cast a glance at Jiang Xia. The girl sure was diligent when it came to helping others!

When she had asked Jiang Xia to help her father and big brother go out to sea, she wouldn’t even wait an hour!

Great-Grandma said cheerfully, “Xiao Xian, we were just about to head out for a meal. Come with us! The convenience store opened today, so let’s all have a meal together.”

Li Xiuxian, wanting to fish for information about the store, smiled and said, “Opening the shop is a happy occasion. I won’t be polite then; I’ll come along to share in the good fortune.”

She had seen many students going in and out of the store since she arrived at school that morning.

Every time a class ended, she had specifically looked toward the convenience store and noticed a crowd of students running there to buy snacks. There were also many when school let out.

Even Zhou Ying had run to her office asking for money to buy something at the store, though Li Xiuxian hadn’t given her any.

With so many students buying things, she wondered exactly how much money they were making.

Great-Grandpa said, “Don’t mention it! No need for formalities! Let’s go! Call A-Sen too, and we’ll all go have a meal at the state-owned restaurant.”

Li Xiuxian replied, “He probably already ate at his workplace cafeteria. He usually eats there before coming home.”

Lately, Zhou Chengsen had been giving her the silent treatment. He hadn’t spoken a single word to her for several days.

Great-Grandma smiled. “Then come back to the village for dinner tonight. Eat at our house so we can all celebrate together. Remember to tell him to come back.”

Li Xiuxian felt this was a good chance to reconcile, so she smiled. “Alright, I’ll tell him when I get home after lunch.”

Then, Li Xiuxian added, “I saw a lot of students going to the convenience store this morning. Business looks good. You must have earned quite a bit, right?”

Great-Grandpa, being an honest man, laughed and said, “Haha, business is indeed quite good. We earned about six yuan this morning alone. It’s much better than my manual labor jobs outside.”

Li Xiuxian was stunned when she heard this. They earned six yuan in a single morning? Wouldn’t that be over ten yuan a day?

In a month, wouldn’t they earn… two or three hundred yuan?

That was more than the combined salaries of her and her husband!

Was running a convenience store really this profitable?

Li Xiuxian started to feel a bit of regret!

If she had known the convenience store was this profitable, she would have had her own parents open one when Jiang Xia suggested it!

Li Xiuxian shot a look at Jiang Xia.

Why hadn’t Jiang Xia said they could earn this much back then?

Chapter 390: The Motorcade Enters the Village

After finishing their meal, Jiang Xia returned to the village with He Xinghuan.

Great-Grandma stayed behind at the convenience store to help. Since the store’s peak hours were very fixed and Great-Grandpa had never done this kind of work before, he was feeling quite overwhelmed. Thus, Great-Grandma decided to stay and lend a hand for a while until Great-Grandpa got the hang of things.

Jiang Xia drove the motorcycle with He Xinghuan on the back right up to their front door.

Chenglei had already returned from his trip out to sea and was just about to head to town to pick up Jiang Xia when she arrived. Seeing Jiang Xia driving the motorcycle with He Xinghuan, he gripped the handlebars of the stationary bike and looked up at He Xinghuan.

He Xinghuan: “…”

She felt quite intimidated by that sharp gaze! She decided then and there that she wouldn’t ride on Xiao Xia’s motorcycle again!

He Xinghuan quickly hopped off. “A-Lei is back. Xiao Xia, then I… I’ll head home first.” Having said that, she nimbly dashed into her own courtyard.

Jiang Xia asked Chenglei with a smile, “Have you eaten yet?”

“I’ve eaten. Get off first; I’ll push the motorcycle inside.” Chenglei held the motorcycle with one hand while supporting Jiang Xia with the other.

Jiang Xia stepped off the motorcycle by leaning on his arm and handed the vehicle over to him. Chenglei silently drove the motorcycle into the courtyard and parked it properly.

Having ridden on the back while Jiang Xia drove once before, he still had lingering fears. Chenglei was not at all comfortable with Jiang Xia driving the motorcycle. Although he knew she drove so aggressively because her skills were actually quite good, he still couldn’t feel at ease.

Jiang Xia went to wash her hands and face. The weather was dry, and driving the motorcycle had kicked up a layer of dust on her face. “Where’s Mom?”

“A fishing net was torn, so she’s at the pier repairing it.”

After parking the motorcycle, Chenglei went to fetch a basin of hot water for Jiang Xia. He took the towel from her hands and soaked it in the hot water. “Did you help out at the convenience store today? Are you tired?”

“I’m not tired. I just sat there and collected money.”

Since it was just the two of them at home, Chenglei wrung out the hot towel. Cupping her face with one hand, he gently wiped her skin. The towel was steaming hot and felt very comfortable against her face. Jiang Xia simply closed her eyes and let him wipe away the invisible dust from her face.

Chenglei wiped her face once, rinsed the towel, and wiped it again. The soft, hot towel was laid gently over her delicate eyes and brow, providing an incredibly soothing sensation as it passed over. He even used the hot towel to cover her ears, which had been turned red by the wind.

After washing her face, he used the towel to warm up her hands, which she had just washed with cold water.

“Next time you wash your hands or face, use hot water. Don’t use cold water,” he said, wrapping her hands in the hot towel.

The weather was cold now, and the coal stove was always keeping water warm. It was just that Jiang Xia felt the well water wasn’t that cold, so she often used it directly. However, whenever he was home, he would always prepare hot water for her.

“Mm,” Jiang Xia replied casually. In truth, the well water wasn’t cold; it felt lukewarm.

“Go take a nap,” Chenglei said after finishing with her hands.

“Mm.” Jiang Xia had come home specifically for a nap. She was still experiencing significant hypersomnia and needed to sleep for at least an hour at noon. Even when she went out to sea, she would find time to sleep for a bit on the boat.

Jiang Xia went back to the room to change into her pajamas. After applying some skincare products to her face, she climbed into bed, only to find that Chenglei had already prepared a hot water bottle and warmed her spot.

The corners of her mouth curled up slightly. She lay down and pulled the quilt up, leaving only her sparkling eyes exposed. In the winter, Jiang Xia was used to sleeping with the quilt over her head, but with Chenglei by her side, he wouldn’t allow it, fearing she would become oxygen-deprived.

Chenglei washed Jiang Xia’s towel and returned to the room, planning to do some work as a translator while waiting for the sofa to be delivered.

Upon entering the room, he saw Jiang Xia lying under the covers with only her eyes showing. Her eyes were curved with a faint smile, looking lively, beautiful, and expressive.

“Do you want to come to bed and sleep for a bit?” Jiang Xia asked him.

“I won’t sleep. I don’t know what time the sofa will be delivered, so I’ll do some translation work. You sleep.”

He closed the door but then wondered if Jiang Xia had something to tell him since she asked. He sat by the edge of the bed and asked, “Was business at the convenience store good today?”

“It was alright. We earned six yuan this morning.” Jiang Xia lifted the quilt. “Come sleep with me for a bit. The bed is cold; keep me warm.”

The bed wasn’t actually cold, but Chenglei had been waking up at four o’clock every morning lately and not going to bed until eleven or twelve at night. Even a body made of iron couldn’t take that indefinitely. They were making a lot of money, but he couldn’t ignore his health. Since she didn’t know when he had finally fallen asleep last night, Jiang Xia wanted to pull him in to rest.

Hearing this, Chenglei took off his outer clothes, folded them neatly, and slid into bed. He had already showered after returning from sea, so his body was clean.

The bed was warm and cozy. Chenglei slid his long arm under Jiang Xia’s neck, pulled her into his embrace, and kissed her forehead. “Hurry up and sleep.”

Jiang Xia hugged his waist, pillowed her head on his arm, and kissed his jawline. “Sleep with me. You’re busy every day. Take a break today and only get up when the sofa arrives.”

“Mm.” Chenglei’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He reached out to pull the quilt tight, tucking it in so that no cold air could leak in, and then held Jiang Xia without moving.

He held her very tightly. He didn’t dare move. He wanted her. It had been many days.

But this was the time when Jiang Xia was most drowsy. He stayed still, quietly calming his impulses.

Jiang Xia’s thigh felt his “persistence.” Nestled in his arms, she looked up and whispered a question.

Upon hearing it, Chenglei hugged her even tighter, pressing her head into his chest. “Go to sleep!”

She wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight if he had his way!

Jiang Xia chuckled inwardly. In the end, she didn’t provoke him further and closed her eyes.

The two embraced quietly, and Jiang Xia soon fell asleep. Chenglei felt the hand at his waist loosen. After waiting a while, he looked down at her and thought about getting up for a cold shower. There were still many months to go before the three little ones arrived.

Chenglei reached out to move the small hand from his waist, but as soon as he moved, Jiang Xia instinctively clung to him with both her hands and legs. Chenglei didn’t try to move again. He closed his eyes.

His nose was filled with Jiang Xia’s scent—the fragrance of her skincare products was tranquil and gentle. Unknowingly, he fell asleep as well.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of car horns drifted in from outside. There was also the sound of a tractor. The noises drew closer and closer.

The two of them woke up together.

“The sofa must be here,” Jiang Xia said, looking up from his arms.

“Mm. You stay in bed; I’ll go check.” Chenglei released Jiang Xia. After moving aside a bit, he held the quilt down as he got out of bed. Not a single draft of wind entered the covers.

Jiang Xia pulled her watch from under the pillow. It was half past two. She had slept for over an hour. She sat up. “I want to get up and see too.”

Chenglei handed her her sweater, helped her put it on, and carefully pulled her hair out from the collar.

“I can do it myself. You hurry and put your clothes on to go check. The delivery people might not know the way.”

“No rush. Mom is waiting at the pier.”

Mother Zhou usually brought the fishing nets home to repair them. Why she was repairing them at the pier today was obvious.

Chenglei helped Jiang Xia dress and waited for her to comb her hair before he put on his own clothes. Once they were both dressed and tidy, they walked out.

The delivery motorcade entering the village stunned the entire community. A large truck, followed by several tractors, slowly made its way into the village.

A crowd of people followed the motorcade from both the front and back. People from the entire village, and even those from the neighboring village, came over to witness the spectacle. This motorcade had been the center of attention all the way from the factory.

Chapter 391: Such Bad Luck

Mother Zhou ran quickly ahead of the motorcade, waving to the large truck while shouting, “Keep coming straight!”

Then, she turned to the children watching the excitement in the middle of the road. “Move aside, the vehicles are coming! Don’t stand in the middle of the road, it’s dangerous.”

The adults quickly pulled their children to the roadside.

The villagers couldn’t help but ask Mother Zhou, “Yongfu’s wife, is this furniture for your family?”

“How many sets of furniture did you buy? It looks like so much.”

Mother Zhou smiled and said, “I don’t even know how much A-Lei bought. He only told me the furniture would be delivered today, not how much. I didn’t expect it to be this much! That boy has been a spendthrift since he was a child! He can never hold onto money. If you gave him a yuan in the morning, it would be gone by noon! Honestly, why buy so much?”

After dropping those humble-bragging words, Mother Zhou waved to the large truck and pointed toward a specific intersection. “Turn in from here!”

The large truck made a turn, and the tractor motorcade behind it followed suit.

Only then did the villagers see the mattresses and leather sofas on the tractors.

“Is that a Simmons mattress? Those Simmons mattresses that only people in big cities use on TV?”

“Probably? I’ve never seen one either. I just think those long chairs look very nice, like the furniture in the homes of wealthy people on TV.”

“Those are called sofas! Genuine leather sofas.”

“Those sofas must be very expensive, right?”

“They’re made of cowhide. Is a pair of leather shoes expensive? Just calculate how many pairs of shoes you could make from the leather on that sofa. And do you see those ‘chicken scratches’ on it? It’s all imported. You tell me if it’s expensive.”

“How expensive exactly? A thousand yuan each?”

“A thousand yuan probably wouldn’t even buy you half of one! Without ten thousand, it’s at least several thousand. Imported goods have taxes; I heard they’re very pricey.”

“Eh, there’s another tractor at the back. The furniture on that one is all wooden. Since Chenglei bought so many sofas, why did he buy wooden chairs too?”

“Maybe they’re for the old house?”

“Their old house already has wooden chairs and a dining table. They’re all newly bought and look similar to these. Why buy more?”

“Who knows!”

Tian Caihua, hearing the gossip, chimed in loudly, “No, the goods on that last tractor aren’t ours! Everything we bought is sofas! I don’t know whose that is!”

Standing in the crowd, Wen Wan wished she could dig a hole in the beach and crawl inside!

The junk on that last tractor was what Zhou Guohua had ordered in town!

Today was an auspicious day, so they had chosen this day for delivery.

If she had known that the furniture for Chenglei’s house was also being delivered today, she would have picked a different date!

In a moment, those high-end sofas would be carried into Chenglei’s grand western-style house, while that junk would be delivered to her house—the one where even the exterior wall tiles hadn’t been laid yet.

Just thinking about that scene made her want to return all that trash!

…

The truck could only reach the entrance of the alley before it could go no further.

The alley was too narrow.

However, the tractors could get through.

Seeing the truck blocking the path, Zhou Guohua stepped forward and said, “Move the truck forward a bit and let our tractor go in first. Our tractor is at the very back.”

Well! That solved the mystery!

It turned out the goods on the last tractor belonged to Zhou Yongguo’s family!

Zhou Guohua then said to Mother Zhou, “Auntie, how about we let our tractor in first? You have so much furniture to unload; I’m afraid it won’t be finished anytime soon. I’m worried the driver delivering my goods will have a problem with it.”

Hearing this, Mother Zhou quickly replied, “Fine, then let your tractor go in first.”

Wen Wan turned her head away, not daring to look at the expressions on everyone’s faces. She walked quickly toward the alley, wanting only to get into her new house as fast as possible to avoid seeing their looks and hearing their comments.

Just as Wen Wan entered the alley, she saw Chenglei and Jiang Xia.

Chenglei said to Jiang Xia, “Stay inside, don’t come out. I’ll go take a look.”

He had to go direct the tractor parking to let the one delivering Zhou Guohua’s goods through first.

Jiang Xia nodded. “Okay, I know.”

Chenglei brushed past Wen Wan, walking quickly out of the alley.

As Chenglei passed her, Wen Wan caught a whiff of a faint, pleasant fragrance.

When she passed Jiang Xia, she smelled that same fragrance.

She glanced at Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia looked even more radiant today, appearing well-loved and nourished.

Thinking of something, Wen Wan felt a wave of disgust.

Doing that kind of thing in broad daylight.

Shameless!

Disgusting!

She felt like she was going to throw up again!

Wen Wan rushed toward the new house, but before she could even open the courtyard gate, she vomited!

“Urgh!”

Wen Wan couldn’t help but vomit right there!

Jiang Xia: “…”

She quickly called out, “Zhou Guohua, your wife is throwing up!”

Hearing this, Zhou Guohua came running over.

Chenglei had finished directing outside, allowing the tractor loaded with Zhou Guohua’s furniture to enter the alley first.

The tractor driver had just turned into the alley: “…”

Can I reverse?

Unfortunately, there were other tractors following behind him, so he had to steel himself and move forward.

Chenglei directed the tractors carrying their goods to follow into the alley.

He glanced at Jiang Xia and felt relieved seeing she had already ducked back into the new house.

When Zhou Bingqiang’s wife saw that Wen Wan had dirtied the brand-new courtyard gate, her face turned dark. She had told her not to go out, yet she insisted on coming out—what bad luck!

Mother Zhou entered the alley and also felt that on such a big day, this was truly quite foul.

If you don’t feel well, don’t come out.

Fortunately, she didn’t vomit right at their own doorstep. Because both families’ courtyards were large and set fairly far apart, otherwise, she would have swatted her with a broom!

Despite her thoughts, Mother Zhou still went home and brought out a bowl of warm water for her. “Drink some warm water to settle yourself!”

Wen Wan had caught her breath and directly refused. “No need. Stay away from me, you smell too strong.”

Mother Zhou was also using the skincare products Jiang Xia had given her, the same brand as Jiang Xia’s, so the scent was similar.

Smelling it made Wen Wan want to vomit again!

Mother Zhou’s expression darkened, and she immediately splashed the bowl of water onto the periwinkle blooming at the corner of her own wall.

If you won’t drink it, fine—I’ll water the flowers!

Jiang Xia walked out and saw Zhou Bingqiang’s wife bringing out a bucket of water.

Jiang Xia quickly said, “Cover it with sand and clean it up properly. If you dare splash it with water and let it flow toward our house, I’ll splash manure into your courtyard!”

If she splashed that bucket of water, it would all wash down in front of their gate.

They were just about to move furniture! People were coming in and out.

Seeing this, Mother Zhou also barked, “Try splashing water if you dare! I’ll sweep it all up and throw it on you!”

Wen Wan: “…”

Truly no compassion at all!

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife paused. “Who’s splashing? I brought this for Xiao Wan to rinse her mouth.”

She had certainly been harboring that little scheme, but since she was caught and so many villagers were watching, she felt too embarrassed to go through with it.

Seeing that she didn’t dare, Jiang Xia said to Mother Zhou, “Mom, go inside and see where you and Dad want your bed placed. We’ll be setting up the beds soon.”

“Alright!” Mother Zhou smiled again and pulled Jiang Xia inside. “Let’s go!”

It was truly unlucky to have such neighbors!

Fortunately, A-Lei’s commanding officer had arranged the match for A-Lei first and he hadn’t married Wen Wan. Otherwise, it would be even more disastrous to have such people as family members!

Zhou Guohua helped Wen Wan into the courtyard and let her stay in the house. Then he went to get sand to cover the mess so the tractor driver could unload the goods.

He could already see the impatience on the driver’s face.

On Chenglei’s side, they began untying the ropes, preparing to unload.

The first tractor was loaded with a set of long sofas and a mattress; the sofas happened to be the ones Jiang Xia planned to put on the first floor.

Chenglei and several tractor drivers first moved the mattress down and into the house, then the sofas.

Jiang Xia went inside and directed them on where to place everything.

Once the goods from one tractor were moved, it reversed and left, making room for the next tractor to pull in.

More long sofas and mattresses.

Having recovered a bit, Wen Wan stood on the second floor and watched.

She watched as one expensive, high-end imported leather sofa and mattress after another were moved into that brand-new western building.

Then she looked at what was being moved into her own house—the most primitive, simple furniture bought from the timber shop in town.

It shouldn’t be like this!

In her dreams, everything was different!

These leather sofas, this western building—they had all appeared in her dream on the very first day she was reborn.

Chapter 392: My Sister-in-law is Available

The alley was narrow, making it difficult for the tractor to maneuver in and out. As a result, moving the few sets of furniture took the entire afternoon.

Many villagers came to tour Jiang Xia’s new home.

It couldn’t exactly be called palatial, but it was certainly a level of luxury and brightness the villagers had never seen before.

The living room was spacious and bright, and the furniture was perfectly sized for the space. Once the full set was arranged, it looked magnificent, instantly elevating the room’s class.

Jiang Xia hadn’t installed the curtains or the chandeliers yet. Once the curtains were hung, the lights installed, and greenery and decorations placed, the entire house would feel much warmer and more comfortable.

At the moment, the sofa dominated the space. It had a stern and rugged style, echoing the feeling Chenglei gave off—stoic and powerful.

Jiang Xia still preferred to decorate the home to be a bit more cozy and welcoming. However, she had personally designed the patterns for the curtain fabric and sent them to the Textile Factory to produce samples.

She had already arranged this, including the designs for the bedding, back during the Canton Fair. The finished products hadn’t arrived yet, so she couldn’t hang the curtains just yet, but Factory Director Peng said they would be ready soon—likely within the next two days.

Jiang Xia watched from the third floor. Zhou Zhou had chosen a room there, as the view from the window was even more beautiful. A worker was currently assembling Zhou Zhou’s bed.

Villagers wandered up and down the stairs, peering into every room.

“Beautiful, so beautiful! This is the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen.”

“Xiao Xia, how much did this sofa and bed cost?”

“This is so comfortable! This sofa is so soft to sit on! It’s way better than a wooden chair! Xiao Xia, did this sofa cost a thousand yuan?”

The worker assembling the bed heard this and spoke up. “A thousand yuan? You couldn’t even buy a single seat for that! These sofas are exported to Europe and America. They sell for several thousand US dollars a set, which is over ten thousand yuan in our currency! A thousand yuan wouldn’t even buy you this bed!”

A village woman who had been sitting on the sofa suddenly felt like her seat was on fire and jumped up!

Jiang Xia explained, “It’s because I helped the furniture factory owner as a voluntary translator for a bit during the Canton Fair. He didn’t take any profit from me and gave it to me at cost price, so it was much cheaper. It wasn’t that expensive.”

The worker added, “Even at cost price, a thousand for a set is impossible. This cowhide is all imported, and the wood is imported too. It requires foreign exchange; it’s very expensive!”

The villagers were speechless. They couldn’t afford to sit on it. They really couldn’t afford it!

One woman had even let her grandson take off his shoes and jump on the sofa. Hearing this, she hurriedly scooped him up, put his shoes on, and carried him downstairs.

Good heavens, if he broke it by jumping, she could never afford to pay for it!

Once Zhou Zhou’s bed was assembled, the wardrobe, bookcase, and desk were all put in place. The entire room instantly felt full. Later, once the bedding was spread, the curtains hung, and the castle-style mosquito net installed, the room would become very cozy.

After finishing the bed in the master bedroom on the third floor, the workers went to assemble the guest room bed. Since Zhou Zhou had chosen a room on the third floor, Jiang Xia had the other guest bed moved there as well. That way, when Zhou Ying came back, she could stay on the third floor with Zhou Zhou. The two sisters got along well and would surely prefer staying together.

The windows were all fitted with iron security bars. Although the balcony didn’t have a security screen, the two children were eight or nine years old and sensible enough that she wasn’t worried.

The guest room bed was finished quickly, and the workers departed.

Chenglei came up to find Jiang Xia. “Is everything done?”

“Finished.” Jiang Xia used a rag to wipe a fingerprint off the desk.

Seeing Chenglei come up, the other villagers started heading downstairs; they had finished their tour anyway. Mainly, Chenglei’s aura was too stern. When he glanced at them, they felt like elementary students meeting their principal and didn’t dare stay any longer. They all scurried downstairs.

Chenglei glanced around the living area and the two rooms. Seeing nothing amiss, he took Jiang Xia’s hand. “Let’s head down. Are you tired?”

Jiang Xia replied, “I was sitting on the sofa most of the time, so I’m not tired.”

As they reached the stairwell, Chenglei instinctively closed the door to the third-floor hall.

Just then, a child ran up the stairs. Seeing the two of them, the child got scared, turned around, and ran back down.

There were too many people and children in the house, and someone could rush up at any moment, so Chenglei led Jiang Xia downstairs.

The door to the second floor was already closed—he had closed it earlier. Reaching the second floor, he asked Jiang Xia, “Do you want to check our bedroom and the study?”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “I already saw them. No need.”

Chenglei continued leading her down.

The first floor living room was packed with people. Mother Zhou was smiling and chatting with everyone.

When they saw Chenglei and Jiang Xia come down, they all spoke up. “A-Lei, the house is decorated so beautifully.”

“A-Lei, you’re really capable, building such a good-looking house!”

Chenglei replied, “I didn’t build it; my wife did.”

Mother Zhou laughed. “Now do you believe me? He only knows how to fish. He’s not like Xiao Xia, who understands everything. He could never have put this house together.”

Everyone looked at Jiang Xia. “Xiao Xia is truly capable. Someone from the city just knows more.”

“She’s been following her parents to different posts since she was a kid; of course she’s seen a lot.”

“I bet she’s even flown on a plane.”

The villagers loved to gossip and speculate. They didn’t care about the truth; give them one sentence, and they could spin a million-word epic.

Jiang Xia smiled at everyone. “You all keep chatting. I’m going over to Great-Grandma’s house.”

Today, Great-Grandma’s house was hosting guests. The two elders were at the convenience store, and only He Xinghuan was busy. How could she manage everything alone? Jiang Xia went to help.

Stepping out of the new courtyard, she told Chenglei, “Go to the pier and buy some food to bring to Great-Grandma’s.”

“Okay. Don’t overwork yourself.”

“I know,” Jiang Xia replied and walked toward Great-Grandma’s.

Just then, someone from the production team came over. “A-Lei, your father called.”

Chenglei pushed his motorcycle out to go take the call and buy the food at the same time.

Hearing the production team member’s words, Mother Zhou told everyone she was busy and went to see why the old man was calling.

The crowd took the hint and left.

Mother Zhou locked the doors and windows, then went to Great-Grandma’s house to help cook.

Tian Caihua soon came over to help as well. Her sofa had also been delivered. But somehow, it just looked a bit off to her.

“Xiao Xia, when you have time, come over to my house and help me arrange the living room. I keep thinking it doesn’t look as good as yours.”

“Sure.”

Around five-thirty, Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa returned home. Zhou Chengsen and his family arrived with them.

With so many people helping, dinner was ready by six o’clock. Great-Grandma hadn’t invited too many people; after all, it was just a convenience store celebration, so she only invited the Zhou brothers.

During dinner, Jiang Xia was worried that once Great-Grandma went to the convenience store in town, they would be short-handed for making the small dried fish, and He Xinghuan wouldn’t be able to handle the workload. After all, Jiang Xia mostly just helped with the fire.

However, Father Zhou had called to say he had purchased 2,500 kg of anchovies, which would be shipped back in a few days. Anchovies were plentiful in those waters, with the fishing season lasting from October to April every year. Anchovies stayed small, grew quickly, and had a high yield.

Jiang Xia was afraid they wouldn’t be able to keep up with the work.

“Should we hire someone else from the village to help?”

The demand for Three-Flavor Small Dried Fish was huge now; essentially, Lord Hou took as much as they could produce.

Hearing this, Tian Caihua immediately said, “Hire my sister-in-law from back home! My sister-in-law is available!”

Li Xiuxian added, “My sister-in-law is free, too!”

Chapter 393: Jiang Xia is the Lucky One

Upon hearing the suggestion, He Xinghuan quickly said, “No need, I can manage on my own.”

He Xinghuan was well-acquainted with the sisters-in-law from Tian Caihua and Li Xiuxian’s families.

Tian Caihua’s eldest sister-in-law was notoriously slovenly; she was famous for not washing her hands even after using the latrine. As for Li Xiuxian’s sister-in-law, she was a bit too shrewd for her own good.

He Xinghuan couldn’t get along with either of them, so she preferred to work a bit harder herself.

“As long as you can manage.” Jiang Xia didn’t know much about the temperaments of those sisters-in-law, but she wasn’t keen on hiring relatives either.

She shifted the topic, asking Great-Grandpa, “Was Great-Grandpa busy this afternoon?”

Great-Grandpa chuckled. “I’ve gotten the hang of it now. It wasn’t as frantic as before.”

Great-Grandma added happily, “Even more students came to buy snacks this afternoon than this morning.”

Li Xiuxian had also noticed the increase in students running to the convenience store. “I saw more students in the afternoon too. You must have made about ten yuan today, right?”

Great-Grandma smiled. “Not quite that much, but around seven yuan.”

Li Xiuxian thought to herself: That’s still thirteen yuan a day!

Great-Grandma’s house was bound to strike it rich sooner or later.

He Xinghuan was earning money selling small fried fish with Jiang Xia. Zhou Yongguo was going out to the distant seas with Chenglei, and since Chenglei was generous, a single voyage could bring in over a thousand yuan in wages and bonuses.

At this rate, her branch of the family would end up being the poorest in the village!

Great-Grandpa remarked, “I expect the crowds will thin out in a couple of days. Right now, the kids probably saw their classmates buying snacks this morning and couldn’t resist asking their parents for pocket money at lunch, or they brought their own savings. But parents won’t be willing to give them spending money every single day.”

Jiang Xia agreed, “It will definitely drop off a bit. But there will still be business, especially from parents who don’t have time to make breakfast; they’ll give their kids money to handle it themselves. Besides, kids are naturally fond of treats.”

The four brothers—Guangzong, Yaozu, and the others—were constantly asking Father Zhou, Mother Zhou, Chenglei, and her for pocket money.

And that was without counting what they asked of Tian Caihua and Zhou Chengxin. When Zhou Chengsen came back, they’d ask him too.

If they asked one person a day, wouldn’t that cover the whole week?

Zhou Zhou was too shy to ask, but Jiang Xia would take the initiative to give her some. Sometimes, if Zhou Zhou didn’t eat much for breakfast or had gym or manual labor class that day, Jiang Xia would give her an extra fifty cents for food, fearing she might get hungry. She didn’t want the girl to feel envious of other kids having pocket money while she was too afraid to ask.

He Xinghuan added, “That’s true. Kids have such a sweet tooth. Zhou Jie asks me for money every day to buy this and that!”

Great-Grandma chimed in, “Did you give it to him? He asks me every day too.”

Zhou Jie hung his head and shoveled rice into his mouth as fast as he could.

“I did! I didn’t give him any yesterday, but I gave him ten cents today.”

Great-Grandpa added, “He asks me every day as well. I gave him twenty cents yesterday.”

He Xinghuan was exasperated. “This clever little monkey!”

Zhou Jie felt wronged. “I don’t ask every day! I rotate through everyone!”

He would ask one person today and another tomorrow. If one said no, he’d ask the next. Once he got the money, he’d stop asking.

“And you think you’re justified!”

Zhou Jie glanced at Zhou Wenzu. “Little grand-nephew taught me!”

Zhou Wenzu immediately piped up, “My Third Brother taught me! He said if Mom won’t give me money, ask Dad. If Dad won’t, ask Grandpa. If Grandpa won’t, ask Grandma. If Grandma won’t, ask Uncle, and if Uncle won’t, ask Auntie. Someone is bound to give in eventually!”

Zhou Wenyao quickly defended himself, “It wasn’t me! Second Brother taught me!”

Zhou Wenzong added, “Big Brother taught me!”

Zhou Wenguang looked at his two sisters and then muttered, “…Grandpa taught me!”

The whole family was amused and irritated at the same time.

Zhou Chengxin sneered, “So, just because your grandpa isn’t home, you’re going to pin it on him?”

Zhou Wenguang didn’t dare speak up too loudly, but he grumbled under his breath, “Who told you guys to be so stingy? You never give us pocket money! Zhou Zhou has so much pocket money she can’t even spend it all!”

Zhou Zhou, who was sitting silently next to her father and eating a chicken wing Jiang Xia had given her, suddenly felt all eyes on her.

Zhou Ying, sitting next to Zhou Zhou, heard it too. She was envious of Zhou Zhou and her cousins. This morning, when her classmates invited her to the convenience store, her mother hadn’t given her any money. She’d had to wait until she got home at noon to ask her father, who finally gave her some.

However, when she went to the store to buy something, Great-Great-Grandpa refused to take her money. But her father had insisted she must pay, so she just dropped the money and ran.

She wished she could live in the village too, with her grandparents, uncle, and auntie.

After dinner, it was already 8:30 PM by the time they returned to the old house.

With so many people around, there was a queue for the bath. As soon as dinner was over and she’d set down her bowl, Li Xiuxian immediately took Zhou Ying home to wash up first.

It would likely be past 10:00 PM before both mother and daughter were finished. That was too late; Jiang Xia usually went to bed by ten.

Zhou Chenglei carried two buckets of hot water over to the bathroom in the new house and let Zhou Zhou go first.

The new house didn’t have ceiling lamps yet, but the backup incandescent bulbs were installed. Fearing Zhou Zhou would be scared alone in the new house, Jiang Xia sat in the living room working through high school review materials while she waited.

She spent an hour every day on the materials Zhang Fuyan had prepared for her. She was determined to finish them all before next year’s Gaokao.

Zhou Chenglei went back to the old house to continue boiling water for Jiang Xia’s bath.

The wind was strong tonight, and the temperature was beginning to drop. Since they weren’t going out to sea tomorrow, Chenglei decided he would buy three gas water heaters and install them—one for each floor. That would be much more convenient.

A well had already been dug at the new house, and both the electric pump and the manual hand pump were installed, so they had cold water.

Once Zhou Zhou finished her bath, Jiang Xia took her back to the old house to sleep.

Zhou Chenglei helpfully washed Zhou Zhou’s clothes. By the time he was done, the water had boiled. He carried two buckets of boiling water to the bathroom in the new house, turned on the tap to mix in some cold water until it was the temperature Jiang Xia liked, and then called her to take her bath.

Jiang Xia came in clutching her clothes.

Zhou Chenglei glanced at the floor tiles. “Be careful, the floor is slippery.”

“I know.”

Chenglei studied the tiles. He couldn’t help but feel that these new tiles became far too slick once they got wet.

Jiang Xia placed her clothes on the rack and looked at him. “Well? Aren’t you going out?”

“I’ll stay with you.”

Jiang Xia was speechless. “No, get out!”

“I need to. The floor is too slippery; I’m worried.”

“There isn’t enough hot water for both of us. Get out!”

“There’s enough. I’ll use cold water, I don’t need the hot.”

“What if someone comes over?”

“I’ve locked the courtyard gate. No one can get in.”

“…”

It wasn’t the floor that was slippery; he’d planned this all along, hadn’t he?

…

An hour later, Jiang Xia returned to the old house alone. She had told Zhou Chenglei he couldn’t come back until he finished washing the clothes.

Li Xiuxian had just finished her own bath. Seeing Jiang Xia, she said, “Xiao Xia, you can go wash now.”

Usually, when they stayed at the old house, Li Xiuxian had to wait for Jiang Xia to finish before she could go. Today, for once, she didn’t have to wait.

Jiang Xia replied, “A-Lei carried two buckets of hot water over to the bathroom at the new house for me. I’ve already finished.”

Li Xiuxian was at a loss for words.

Jiang Xia really is the lucky one!

Chenglei arranged everything for her perfectly. She never had to suffer even the slightest inconvenience.

Jiang Xia called out to Mother Zhou, “Mom, why don’t you go wash up?”

Mother Zhou, who was still mending a fishing net, replied, “In a minute. Let me finish this net first. We’re slaughtering a pig tomorrow, so I won’t have time then. A-Sen and A-Lei should go first!”

Jiang Xia said, “A-Lei is washing over at the new house. He’s taking a cold bath, so don’t worry about him.”

Hearing about the pig, Li Xiuxian asked Mother Zhou, “Mom, we’re slaughtering a pig tomorrow?”

Mother Zhou nodded. “Yes. I want to make some cured meat and sausages. After the New Year, when your father and A-Lei go out to the distant seas, they can take some on the boat.”

Li Xiuxian asked, “How many are we killing? Are we not selling the pigs this year?”

They had been raising four pigs. During the family division, it had been agreed that one pig belonged to the second branch.

Chapter 394: How Could He Have the Nerve?

Mother Zhou replied, “We’ll sell them, but we’re slaughtering one for ourselves first.”

There were four pigs in total. During the family division, it was decided that each of the three brothers would get one, and Mother Zhou and Father Zhou would have one.

The pigs were all being raised at Tian Caihua’s place and were usually fed by her. When Tian Caihua went out to sea, Mother Zhou would go over to feed them.

Mother Zhou planned to slaughter the one belonging to the two elders to make some cured meat and sausages.

Due to the climate, the best time to dry cured meat and sausages in this region was before the Winter Solstice.

Before the Winter Solstice, the weather was typically dry and clear, with pleasant sunshine and a gentle breeze—perfect conditions for curing meat. The weather after the Winter Solstice was less predictable.

Li Xiuxian breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “Slaughtering one for cured meat and sausages is a good idea. Yingying and A-Sen love your cured meats the most.”

A live pig seemed to be going for about 0.40 yuan per 500 grams this year, and the price would likely rise toward the end of the year. The pigs raised at home were fat, usually weighing over 125 kg.

One pig could sell for around a hundred yuan. Last year, the family had also raised four pigs, earning over four hundred yuan by the end of the year.

In the past, the parents-in-law held all the money. Now that the family had divided, the money from each family’s pig would, of course, stay with each family.

Mother Zhou added, “Once the meat is cured, take some back to town to eat.”

Jiang Xia found a small stool and sat down. “Mom, you go shower first. I’ll finish repairing this.”

Having watched them so often, Jiang Xia had learned how to mend fishing nets. This was probably an essential skill for any fisherman’s wife.

Mother Zhou hadn’t been a fisherwoman before she married, but she had learned everything after marrying Father Zhou.

“No need, go to bed,” Mother Zhou said. “I’m almost done.”

Jiang Xia didn’t argue. She sat at the other end, found a torn spot, and began mending.

Li Xiuxian spoke up, “I’ll go check if Yingying has finished her homework. I’ll tell A-Sen to take a shower while I’m at it.”

Then she returned to her room.

Inside, Zhou Chengsen was tutoring Zhou Ying with her homework.

Zhou Ying had come straight home after school, but she only started her homework after her shower. With final exams approaching, she had a lot of work. Today, she had an essay to write and had only just finished.

Li Xiuxian said to him, “Go take your shower! Mom will be done with the nets and wanting the bathroom soon.”

Zhou Chengsen ignored her and spoke only to his daughter. “Pack your school bag and go to sleep.”

With that, he stood up, grabbed his clothes, and went to shower.

He didn’t give Li Xiuxian a single glance the entire time.

Li Xiuxian: “…”

How long was he going to stay angry?

Yingying was already better!

Jiang Xia and Mother Zhou soon finished the nets. Jiang Xia washed her hands and went to the new house to use the toilet.

Using the bathroom at night was finally no longer a scary ordeal.

Chenglei happened to have just finished washing the laundry and was hanging it up right there. Seeing Jiang Xia come over, he frowned. “Not asleep yet?”

“I’m going to bed after I use the bathroom.” Jiang Xia went inside to the washroom.

When Chenglei finished hanging the clothes and Jiang Xia came out, the couple locked the doors together and returned to the old house.

Back in their room, once she lay beneath the covers, Jiang Xia was pulled into a warm, solid embrace.

A firm kiss followed.

It lasted until she could barely breathe.

His chest vibrated with a low resonance.

He finally let go, laying her flat.

He propped himself up with his hands to avoid crushing her, leaning down to bury his head…

Earlier, he had been genuinely worried about the floor tiles being slippery.

Since it was cold, he was also afraid Jiang Xia would catch a chill, so he had truly just been looking after her then.

But now it was warm, and there was no need to worry about the cold.

Jiang Xia loved “strawberries,” and he loved “planting” them.

Planting them within his own territory.

…

The sound of the mechanical watch ticking echoed in her ears for a long time.

Jiang Xia could never quite handle him when he was like this.

This kind of lingering friction…

She was afraid of losing herself.

Subconsciously, she gave him a small push.

Chenglei finally lifted his head and caught her hand. Propping up his body, he leaned back against her temple and whispered two words.

His voice was extremely hoarse.

He looked at her.

Jiang Xia glared at him and turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.

Chenglei pulled her into his arms and gave a tender smile.

And continued…

Under the pillow, the minute hand of the watch swept around circle after circle.

Jiang Xia buried her face in his chest.

The air she breathed into her lungs felt as scorching as fire.

It was entirely filled with his scent.

A scent that was strangely crisp yet contradictory in its searing heat.

A man who was normally the most upright and serious, yet possessed such a vast repertoire of tricks.

The next morning, the sun was high in the sky by the time Jiang Xia woke up.

She picked up the watch to check the time—it was already 9:30 AM!

Just as she was about to put it down, she noticed a few faint marks on the watch face.

Jiang Xia: “…”

Later, when he had been cleaning up, she had been exhausted. In her daze, she seemed to recall grabbing the watch to check the time.

Jiang Xia placed the watch on the bedside table, intending to let him clean it himself when he returned.

Then she saw the note left on the headboard: Breakfast is in the pot, remember to eat it. Mom and I went to Big Brother’s house to slaughter the pig.

The tone was gentle, but the handwriting was bold and powerful, carrying a cold intensity.

Just like the man himself—commanding and imposing.

The strokes were like iron carvings, filled with a sharp, lethal vigor.

Jiang Xia opened the drawer, placed the note inside, and closed it.

Then she took the clothes he had prepared for her and changed.

Her undergarments felt a bit tight and pinched uncomfortably. She wasn’t sure if it was because of him or something else.

Once she was fully dressed, she walked out.

In the courtyard, the bedsheets and pillowcases they had changed last night were hanging on the line, fluttering in the wind.

There were also her pajamas—the ones he had hurriedly used to wipe things clean.

They were her pajamas!

Jiang Xia: “…”

How did he have the nerve to get up so early and wash the bedsheets?

In the iron pot, a bowl of bird’s nest milk, a bowl of millet porridge topped with a sea cucumber, a boiled egg, and a small sweet potato were being kept warm.

After Jiang Xia finished her breakfast, she headed out, intending to check on things at the first branch’s house.

She could already hear the shrill squealing of a pig.

She had never seen a pig being slaughtered before.

In the era she came from, pigs had to be sent to a centralized slaughterhouse to be inspected before they could be butchered; private slaughter was prohibited.

As Jiang Xia was closing her courtyard gate, someone stepped out from the neighboring yard.

It was Pan Daidi.

When Pan Daidi saw Jiang Xia, her gaze was like poisoned arrows, staring fixedly at her.

Jiang Xia was momentarily surprised but met her gaze calmly.

Pan Daidi immediately looked away the moment her eyes met Jiang Xia’s!

She tugged at the brand-new wool coat she was wearing and turned her head away. When she saw the tall, brand-new Western-style house across from them, her expression stiffened. She looked away again and walked off with heavy, dramatic steps!

Jiang Xia glanced down.

The woman was wearing a pair of lambskin leather shoes.

Jiang Xia locked her courtyard gate and went to Great-Grandma’s house, asking He Xinghuan to keep an eye on her place.

He Xinghuan was currently sorting through fried fish and agreed with a smile, deciding to move her work outside the gate to keep watch.

Jiang Xia thanked her and headed toward the first branch’s house.

The moment she entered the courtyard, she smelled the scent of blood.

Several men were standing in the yard.

There were a few Jiang Xia didn’t recognize.

She saw two large basins of pig blood and two pigs.

Zhou Chengsen was there, and Chenglei was holding a knife, his brows furrowed in concentration as he carefully scraped the pig hair. Suddenly, as if sensing something, he looked toward the gate.

He immediately put down the knife, washed his hands, and walked over to her side. Blocking her view, he looked at her with gentle eyes. “Why did you come over? Have you eaten breakfast?”

A face that had been “well-fed” the night before certainly looked refreshed!

Jiang Xia shifted her gaze. “I’ve never seen a pig slaughtered. I came to see.”

Chenglei: “…”

What was there to see?

The smell was strong, and it was bloody.

Mother Zhou saw Jiang Xia and walked over as well. She remembered that when her second daughter-in-law was pregnant with Yingying, she hadn’t vomited at all until she saw a pig being slaughtered. After that, she started vomiting severely.

She couldn’t eat pork until Yingying was born and couldn’t even stand the smell of basic cooking.

“Xiao Xia, don’t come in. Go home! A-Lei, didn’t you need to go buy some things? We don’t need you here anymore. Take Xiao Xia to buy what you need!”

Chenglei took off his gloves and apron and led Jiang Xia away.

Chapter 395: Aunt Fen

Chenglei was driving the tractor this time because he needed to buy things. He was also taking a batch of fried fish to the city and stopping by the Textile Factory to check if the curtain fabric samples were ready.

He had one more errand to run in the city.

Jiang Xia was sitting on a soft yet firm, elastic cushion. She looked down in surprise and asked, “When did you make this cushion?”

He had even modified the tractor’s seat!

Several thick springs had been added to the bottom of the seat, acting as shock absorbers.

Her seat also had a backrest.

It made sitting and leaning very comfortable.

The tractor had been parked behind the new house, so Jiang Xia hadn’t noticed.

“At night.”

Tractors tended to be bumpy. He had thought that one day he would need to take Jiang Xia to the city with the tractor. Jiang Xia went to bed early at night, so whenever he had free time, he would dismantle an old quilted jacket and weave a rectangular cushion out of cattail grass. He stuffed layers of cotton and straw padding inside, making it sturdy yet slightly soft, and able to provide some cushioning.

Chenglei gripped the hand crank and turned it several times to start the tractor. Then he pulled out the crank, walked over to Jiang Xia, put the crank away, and sat down in the driver’s seat.

He reached out and adjusted Jiang Xia’s scarf and wool hat.

He pulled the wool hat low, down to her eyebrows, covering her ears.

He also pulled the scarf high, covering her mouth and nose.

Only her eyes were visible.

Jiang Xia: “…”

She had fiddled in front of the mirror for a while to get the perfect look with her wool hat and scarf!

“What are you doing? You ruined my look!” Jiang Xia glared at him, reaching out to tidy her hat and scarf.

Chenglei didn’t care about her “look.” He pulled her hand down. “Don’t move, just like this. It’s much colder today. If you ride all the way to the city with the wind blowing, your ears and nose will turn red. I’ll fix it for you when we arrive. Besides, it’s windy today, there’s a lot of dust on the road, and the tractor’s diesel smell is heavy. Covering up like this is just right.”

Jiang Xia thought that made sense and stopped moving.

“Sit tight.” Chenglei reminded her after seeing her settled, then reached out, shifted something, started the tractor, and they set off.

When Chenglei drove the tractor out of the village, they encountered two villagers on the road.

It was a woman from the neighboring village. She carried two woven sacks and a chicken cage on her shoulders, and held a seven or eight-year-old girl by the hand.

The girl’s clothes were full of patches but very clean.

Chenglei told Jiang Xia, “That’s Aunt Fen, a mother of a former classmate of mine. I’ll ask her where she’s going.”

“Okay.”

The tractor stopped in front of the woman.

“Aunt Fen,” Chenglei greeted her first, then asked, “Where are you two headed?”

Jiang Xia smiled and called out, “Aunt Fen.”

“Oh, A-Lei’s wife.” Aunt Fen smiled in response and said, “I’m going to the town. Isn’t today market day? I’m going to sell some things.”

Chenglei got off the tractor and said, “I’m going to the city, which is on the way. Get on the tractor, I’ll give you a ride.”

“No, no! We’ll be there soon! I can just walk! Don’t let us delay you, hurry on your way!”

She had a cage full of chickens! It wouldn’t be good if the chickens made a mess in the tractor.

Jiang Xia smiled, “It’s no trouble, it’s on the way anyway. Aunt Fen, don’t be shy, please get on the tractor quickly.”

Chenglei got off the tractor, took the load from her shoulder, and helped her lift the two woven sacks and the chicken cage onto the tractor.

“Oh, how can I be so rude! Just drop me off at the intersection for the town!”

“Hey, do you have any old woven sacks I can use as a mat? I’m afraid the chickens will poop in the vehicle bed.”

“It’s fine, no need for a mat,” Chenglei said.

Aunt Fen still forcefully pulled a handful of dried grass from the roadside and placed it under the chicken cage.

Then Aunt Fen let her daughter climb onto the tractor herself.

Chenglei remembered the child was already 9 years old, quite big, so he didn’t carry her onto the tractor.

Once they were all on the tractor, he returned to the driver’s seat, sat down, and started the tractor.

Seeing the little girl’s thin clothing, Jiang Xia took a small blanket and handed it to the back. “Aunt Fen, give this to the child to cover up and block the wind.”

This was what Chenglei had prepared for her, but she was warmly dressed and not cold.

“No, no. She’s not cold, she’s wearing a quilted jacket. You cover up, you two cover up!”

Jiang Xia smiled, “Just cover up! Riding a tractor is windier than walking. It wouldn’t be good if the child caught a cold from the wind.”

Aunt Fen took it after hearing this and covered the child.

The thin blanket was very soft, carrying a faint scent of honey locust soap and sunshine, clearly washed very clean.

She felt a little awkward, afraid of getting it dirty.

Chenglei was a man of few words. Besides coaxing Jiang Xia to talk more to foster their marital affection, he usually spoke little when outsiders were present.

Jiang Xia was also a person of few words, but not speaking felt a bit awkward, mainly for fear of embarrassing Aunt Fen and her daughter.

Jiang Xia then asked, “Aunt Fen, you’re going to town to sell things, why so late?”

“Yes, I woke up late, so it’s a bit late.”

In truth, she had a bedridden mother-in-law to care for at home. She had to wait for her to wake up, feed her, and only then could she leave.

Jiang Xia thought that her new house would soon have a housewarming party, and she would invite relatives, friends, and people from the village for a meal.

Weddings and housewarmings were big celebrations here. Villagers usually invited the entire village for these two joyous occasions.

Chenglei had calculated that they might need 20 tables for a flowing feast.

As the saying goes, no chicken, no feast. Each table would need half a rooster or a hen.

They had many hens, but only two roosters. However, the hens were all laying eggs, and they were reluctant to kill them.

One rooster needed to be slaughtered for ancestral worship during the Winter Solstice. The remaining rooster had to be kept for the hens to ensure fair fertilization, otherwise, the eggs wouldn’t hatch into chicks.

Jiang Xia asked, “Aunt Fen, do you raise many chickens? Perfect, my family is planning to buy some chickens for a banquet.”

Aunt Fen immediately asked, “How many do you need? My family has sixteen roosters and twenty hens.”

She made money by raising chickens, so she had quite a few.

Jiang Xia asked Chenglei, “Do we need sixteen roosters? Do we need any hens?”

The New Year was approaching, and roosters were also needed for ancestral worship during the New Year, and there were annual rituals and deity parade activities.

Chenglei: “Aunt Fen, we’ll take all the roosters and hens you can sell.”

Didn’t Dr. Gao say it’s better to eat a variety of things? Buying more chickens and eating chicken once or twice a week would be good.

Aunt Fen smiled, “Okay, then I won’t sell this cage of chickens. I’ll keep them all and deliver them to your house later.”

Jiang Xia smiled, “Then we’ll trouble Aunt Fen. We’ll buy this cage of chickens now, and return the cage to you later. Have you weighed these chickens at home? How much do they cost?”

There were two roosters and two old hens in the cage, all fat!

Aunt Fen smiled, “Yes, I weighed them. One rooster is 3.75 kg, and the other is 3.9 kg. One hen is 2.25 kg, and the other is 2 kg. The roosters are over a year old, and the old hens are three years old, very nourishing. I’ll charge you 90 fen per jin.”

Currently, chickens generally sold for 70-80 fen per jin, though it also depended on how long they had been raised. Those raised for four or five months, not yet laying eggs, were even cheaper.

Roosters and old hens were a bit more expensive, usually 1 yuan to 1 yuan 10 fen per jin.

The state price for agricultural and sideline products varied frequently, but not by much.

Jiang Xia gave Aunt Fen 25 yuan.

“You don’t need to give me so much.”

Jiang Xia: “It’s about right. We can’t take advantage of you, and I don’t even need a coupon to buy from you! Let’s just do that! Otherwise, if you lose money, I wouldn’t dare to buy from you again.”

Only then did Aunt Fen accept it, continually saying thank you, and even offered to give them the cage.

Just then, they arrived at the intersection for the town market. Chenglei stopped the tractor and helped her take the two woven sacks off the tractor.

Aunt Fen, holding her daughter’s hand, waved goodbye to them.

After the tractor drove away, Jiang Xia asked Chenglei, “Is Aunt Fen’s daughter…”

Chapter 396: Unity is Strength

Zhou Chenglei knew what Jiang Xia was asking, so he replied, “Yes.”

“No wonder she isn’t in school,” Jiang Xia said. “Are there no schools for the deaf and mute in our city?”

“Not yet. The nearest one is in Suicheng. It’s a bit far, and Aunt Fen’s family isn’t doing well financially. There are elderly relatives who have been bedridden for years and need constant medication and doctor visits. The whole family relies on the couple raising chickens and farming to make ends meet. They couldn’t afford to send her to Suicheng, and since it’s so far from home, they probably weren’t comfortable with it anyway.”

Zhou Chenglei explained Aunt Fen’s situation to Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia had been wanting to hire someone to help He Xinghuan make the small fried fish. She had also noticed Aunt Fen and her daughter’s clothing earlier—worn and patched, but very clean. She asked, “What do you think about me hiring Aunt Fen to help with the fish?”

“You’re the boss. Aunt Fen’s cooking is actually quite good; I used to eat at her house all the time when I was a kid.”

Jiang Xia recalled that Zhou Chenglei had specifically mentioned she was his classmate’s mother. It was clear that this classmate had been very important to him.

“What about your classmate? What does he do now?”

Zhou Chenglei’s voice dropped. “During my third year in the military, the first time I came back for a visit, I heard the news. He thought someone had fallen into the river and jumped in to save them. He was swept away by the rapids and didn’t make it.”

Jiang Xia found his wording a bit strange. “What do you mean he thought someone had fallen in?”

Zhou Chenglei’s tone turned cold. “Someone was shouting for help at the time. Zhou Quan thought it was a person, but it turned out to be a dog.”

Jiang Xia: “……”

The third year of his service… they were classmates, and Zhou Chenglei had enlisted when his household register said he was sixteen…

Three years later, he would have only been nineteen.

“Zhou Quan didn’t have many siblings, just one older sister. He was the only son. Back then, he wanted to enlist with me, but his family wouldn’t let him. His grandmother was the most adamant about it. After the accident, the shock was too much for her, and she suffered a stroke. Zhou Pan was born after Zhou Quan passed away; Aunt Fen and her husband wanted to try for another son, but they didn’t expect…”

Jiang Xia: “……”

They didn’t expect it to be a daughter, and they certainly didn’t expect her to be deaf and mute.

After finishing, Zhou Chenglei fell into a rare silence.

He was usually a man of few words around others, but when it was just the two of them, he loved talking to her. Whenever they were on the road, unless she was sleeping, he would always find something to say.

In their private moments, he was usually the talker and she was the listener. If they encountered a certain person or event that triggered a memory, he would share it with her bit by bit, in great detail.

This time, he had said very little.

Since there was no one else on the road, Jiang Xia moved closer to him, resting her head against his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his waist. “I’m a bit sleepy. I didn’t sleep well last night.”

He was tall and sat quite upright, so Jiang Xia couldn’t actually reach his shoulder comfortably; she ended up leaning against his arm.

Thinking about why she hadn’t slept well—mostly due to his own lack of restraint—Zhou Chenglei adjusted his posture to make her more comfortable. “Lean on me and get some sleep.”

Jiang Xia wasn’t actually that tired. She teased, “I can’t fall asleep. How about you sing me a song?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Jiang Xia realized she had never heard him sing before!

With such a pleasant speaking voice, his singing had to be wonderful, right?

Jiang Xia looked at him with great anticipation.

“…”

Zhou Chenglei was silent for a moment before he finally opened his mouth: “Unity is strength, unity is strength! This strength is iron, this strength is steel! Harder than iron, stronger than steel…”

Jiang Xia: “……”

She wanted to laugh!

But she didn’t dare!

He was completely tone-deaf!

Zhou Chenglei steered the tractor with one hand and reached out with his long arm to pull her closer, fearing she might fall off the tractor from laughing too hard. “Laugh if you want to.”

He knew he had no talent for singing; his pitch was all over the place.

Jiang Xia giggled. “I’m not laughing. It sounds great. Keep singing.”

Zhou Chenglei could do nothing with her. Since there was no one on the road, he decided to just indulge her. Wasn’t it said that pregnant women should stay happy every day?

Zhou Chenglei started from the beginning again: “Unity is strength…”

For the rest of the journey, he sang every song he had learned in the military.

It worked perfectly—he successfully sang Jiang Xia to sleep.

As they neared the city, Jiang Xia was startled awake by the sound of a car horn.

Zhou Chenglei had been protecting her with one arm the whole way. Seeing her wake up with a start, he patted her back gently.

Jiang Xia sat up straight, feeling a bit dazed. “Are we here? Where are we going first?”

“First, we’ll deliver the dried fish. Then we’ll go to the publishing house to drop off your translations. After that, we’ll get the tractor’s license plate and apply for a temporary permit. Then we’ll grab some lunch. After lunch, you can head home for a nap, and in the afternoon, we’ll go to the mall to buy a water heater and some lamps.”

“What kind of temporary permit?” Jiang Xia asked. “A tractor operation permit?”

“I already applied for that. Didn’t you want to produce small dried fish on a large scale? I plan to apply for a non-staple food processing production permit. With that, you won’t need coupons to buy oil or sesame seeds. Otherwise, when Dad sends back 2500 kg of dried fish, where are we going to find enough oil to fry them all?”

“We can get a permit without a factory?” Jiang Xia had been thinking about getting a permit for a while, but she hadn’t been able to find a factory space to rent. Usually, people were building factories for their own use, not for rent. She didn’t have the capital to build one herself yet.

“We’ll register it as a village workshop using the old house as the production site. Aren’t we moving into the new house soon anyway?”

Jiang Xia: “……”

That… actually worked! It made perfect sense!

Zhou Chenglei picked up a water canteen and gave Jiang Xia a drink; she hadn’t had water the whole way. “It’ll just be a temporary permit for now.”

Currently, the government was supporting the development of individual businesses, so permits were relatively easy to get, though most were temporary. It was a stage of “crossing the river by feeling the stones.” If the business proved viable, they could get a formal permit later.

The two of them first went to the pier to deliver the small dried fish to Lord Hou, then stopped by the publishing house. Zhou Chenglei also took the opportunity to mail a letter at the nearby post office.

Next, they arrived at the Industry and Commerce Administration Bureau. They submitted the application materials and paid one hundred yuan in registered capital.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, Jiang Xia listed Zhou Chenglei as the person in charge and submitted a black-and-white ID photo of him.

The photo had been taken a while ago. He looked incredibly handsome, and since he was wearing his old uniform, the clerk processing the paperwork couldn’t help but steal several glances at him.

She kept peeking at Zhou Chenglei and ended up messing up the paperwork several times.

Jiang Xia glanced at Zhou Chenglei. “I’ve never seen you in your uniform.”

Zhou Chenglei looked back at her and simply said, “I’ll put it on for you when we get home.”

After finishing the application, they were told to return in a week to pick up the permit. The two of them then drove the tractor away.

What should have been a quick task had taken much longer because the staff member kept making mistakes. By the time they left, it was already time for the afternoon break.

As a result, they encountered Father Jiang’s car on the road.

The driver recognized Jiang Xia and alerted Father Jiang.

Both vehicles pulled over.

Jiang Xia climbed down from the tractor, and Zhou Chenglei assisted her before hopping down himself.

Father Jiang got out of his car and smiled. “You bought a tractor? Good, a tractor is practical.”

After the compliment, Father Jiang asked, “Have you eaten? Let’s go grab lunch together.”

Since they had run into each other, a meal was definitely in order.

Zhou Chenglei had Jiang Xia ride in Father Jiang’s car while he followed behind on the tractor.

The staff member who had just finished her shift was cycling home when she saw Father Jiang personally escorting Jiang Xia into the sedan. She was so shocked she nearly crashed into a utility pole.

What was going on? What was their relationship?

In the car, Father Jiang asked Jiang Xia how she had been and if she felt unwell.

However, he noticed his daughter had put on some weight. Every time he saw her, her complexion looked better than the last. Moreover, her hands were still as smooth as before she married; they hadn’t become rough from farm work. It was clear she was living well—perhaps even better than when she was a young lady at home.

Seeing her thrive made him feel more at ease. He had personally handpicked this son-in-law, even going so far as to shamelessly ask an old superior to act as a matchmaker. He would stake his life on Zhou Chenglei’s character. Although fate had dealt them a few blows, things were clearly improving now.

“When are you moving into the new house?”

Chapter 397: Queuing Up

After having lunch at her parents’ home, Jiang Xia took an hour-long nap before getting out of bed. Both Father Jiang and Mother Jiang had already headed back to work.

Mother Jiang had packed two red-white-and-blue striped plastic bags for Jiang Xia to take home.

One bag contained baby clothes, swaddling blankets, and diapers that she had asked the workers at the factory to help make. They were all crafted from the softest, most breathable fabrics she had personally selected. The factory’s holiday break would start in January; it was a relatively slow period now at the end of the year, but once work resumed to rush out the summer collection, things would get busy again.

The other bag contained maternity clothes she had bought for Jiang Xia. Since Jiang Xia’s bump would likely start showing soon, Mother Jiang had prepared these in advance.

Jiang Xia left two chickens and 500 grams of sea cucumbers for her parents. She asked the helper to slaughter the chickens and put them in the refrigerator, then she left with Chenglei.

The couple first went to get the license plate for their tractor. They hasn’t had enough time to handle it that morning. Fortunately, they had submitted the application materials earlier, and the plate was already ready, so they could have it installed directly upon arrival.

After the license plate was sorted, they went to the Friendship Store. Jiang Xia needed to buy some undergarments; she went inside alone and told Chenglei to look at other things.

Lingerie in those days didn’t have many styles. Fortunately, she was still young and had a good figure, so she didn’t need any functional support. She picked out a few of the most comfortable vest-style sports bras and some old-fashioned cotton bras.

After finishing her purchase, she went to find Chenglei.

Seeing him holding several items, Jiang Xia asked, “What did you buy?”

“Some clothes and a hair dryer.”

Jiang Xia smiled. “You managed to find a hair dryer?” Every time they came, they were out of stock.

She took a look and saw that he had bought her two more outfits. “I have too many clothes already; you didn’t need to buy more. My mom just gave me another bag today.”

“These two sets aren’t as thick. You can wear them when the weather isn’t so cold.” He had liked them the moment he saw them and thought Jiang Xia would look beautiful in them, so he bought them.

Jiang Xia noted, “The wardrobe is about to burst as it is.”

“There are still empty rooms on the second floor. When the time comes, I’ll have a few more wardrobes built specifically for your clothes.” He took the bags from Jiang Xia and carried them himself.

Jiang Xia asked, “Did you manage to get the water heaters?”

“They’re out of stock.”

Father Jiang had known they intended to buy water heaters and suspected they might be sold out. Since it was still winter, water heaters were selling very well. Moreover, the only domestic brand available in this era was the Yuhuan direct-vent water heater; the “Big Four” brands of water heaters had not yet emerged.

Chenglei had asked when they would have more stock, and the clerk said they would arrive tomorrow—first come, first served.

Father Jiang had offered to help them buy one, but Chenglei wanted to buy three, or at least two. One for the first floor and one for the second floor. He wondered if he should find someone else to help rather than bothering Father Jiang.

The couple also bought three chandeliers. Seeing that there were electric fans for sale—specifically three Diamond brand desk fans and one ceiling fan—Chenglei didn’t hesitate to pull out his industrial coupons and buy them all. Otherwise, come summer, fans would be very difficult to get and would require waiting in long lines.

By the time they finished their errands, it was already past five o’clock. Normally, Chenglei would have driven home, but it got dark by six o’clock now. With poor visibility on the road, driving the tractor wouldn’t be as safe. Since he was with Jiang Xia, he didn’t want to take the risk and decided to stay the night at the Jiang house.

Chenglei called the village and told his mother that they wouldn’t be home until tomorrow and would stay at the Jiangs’ tonight.

The next morning, he woke up at four thirty to go and queue for the water heaters.

When he arrived, it wasn’t even five o’clock yet, and no one else was there. The streets were mostly empty, likely because the weather was bitterly cold today.

After waiting for a while, Father Jiang also arrived to join the queue.

Chenglei said, “Dad, it’s so cold. Why did you get up so early? Go back! I can just wait here by myself.”

Father Jiang chuckled. “I get up early every day to exercise anyway. It’s fine. We’ll wait together and buy one more, so you have them for both upstairs and downstairs.”

During dinner, when he learned that the house his daughter and son-in-law were building had three stories, he realized one water heater probably wouldn’t be enough. Since he was up early for his exercise regardless, he came to queue.

Thus, the father and son-in-law stood in the piercing cold wind, chatting as they waited. In the dim light, you could see the puffs of white mist every time they spoke.

Before long, people began to arrive, and soon a line started to form. By daybreak, the queue was already quite long.

At six thirty, someone came by the line selling buns.

As Chenglei went to buy some, Father Jiang reminded him not to buy too many, as Mother Jiang would be bringing breakfast over. Chenglei bought four buns, two for each of them. With the steaming hot buns in their stomachs, the cold didn’t feel as biting.

At seven thirty, Mother Jiang drove over with Jiang Xia, bringing breakfast for the two men.

The mother and daughter got out of the car and said to them, “There’s breakfast in the car. Go eat inside! We’ll take your place in line.”

Jiang Xia added, “Dad, you should head to work after you finish eating. Mom, you too. I can wait here.”

“Alright,” Father Jiang replied. He unwound the scarf from his neck and wrapped it around his daughter’s.

A reporter on his way to work saw this and quickly snapped a photo of the scene.

Only after Father Jiang had tucked the scarf snugly around his daughter did he and his son-in-law get into the car to eat. Neither of them had eaten their fill earlier, having only had two buns to settle their stomachs.

The people in the queue looked at the car and then at the mother and daughter. Even people this wealthy had to get up early to queue for water heaters? Some even recognized Father Jiang and were even more shocked! Everyone in line knew that those at the very front had arrived before five o’clock!

After finishing breakfast, Chenglei returned to the queue. Mother Jiang told them both to be careful on the way home, then she and Father Jiang went off to work.

As soon as eight o’clock struck, the shop opened its doors. Jiang Xia and Chenglei bought one water heater each.

Someone asked why the couple was buying two, and Chenglei replied, “One is for my parents.”

Then, carrying a water heater in each hand, he walked with Jiang Xia back to the Jiang house. They drove the tractor back toward the village, stopping by the Textile Factory on the way. The custom fabric Jiang Xia had ordered was ready, and they successfully picked it up to take home.

It was only past nine o’clock when they returned to the village.

Mother Zhou was busy stuffing sausages. The courtyard was filled with pieces of cured meat—perfectly marbled fat and lean—hanging to dry.

Jiang Xia washed her hands, put on an apron and her oversleeves, and stepped forward to help.

Mother Zhou said with a smile, “I made some Pig’s Trotters in Vinegar. Go have some.”

Jiang Xia replied, “I’ll eat in a bit. Did we turn an entire pig into cured meat and sausage?”

“Pretty much. I kept some lean meat, and the leg meat is in the cold storage at the collection point. A-Lei said to save it for pork jerky. The pig’s head, blood, and offal were distributed to the neighbors. I kept a bit of the blood and a pig stomach; I’m planning to make pig stomach chicken soup today. Your sister-in-law originally wanted to sell half of her pig and keep the other half for cured meat. I took her other half as well to make into more cured meat and sausages. Won’t A-Lei need to give gifts at the end of the year? We can use these.”

“We still have one more pig. We’ll slaughter it the day before we move into the new house, so we won’t need to buy pork for that. We’ll give the remaining half back to your Big Brother.”

“Sounds good,” Jiang Xia agreed.

Jiang Xia was skilled at stuffing sausages. After Chenglei finished moving all the items they brought back, he also came to help. The three of them were efficient workers, and in an hour, they had stuffed dozens of kilograms of meat.

Chenglei took them to the rooftop of the new house to dry.

Mother Zhou brought over a few toothpicks, as she needed to prick small holes in the sausages. In the living room, she noticed several fans sitting on the floor. “Why did you buy so many fans?”

Jiang Xia laughed. “This way, every room for the family can have one. The ceiling fan will be installed in the dining hall. When summer comes, it won’t be hot when we’re eating or sleeping.”

Jiang Xia imagined it; installing a ceiling fan shouldn’t look too bad. Even if it did, there was no helping it—utility came first. Eating in the summer was truly sweltering!

“This must have cost so much money. We’re old; we don’t mind the heat,” Mother Zhou said, her heart aching at the thought of her son spending so much money on them, yet feeling a warm glow inside. Her son and daughter-in-law were so filial, always buying the best for the elders and never leaving them out. How could she not be happy?

Early the next morning, a member of the production team personally delivered the newspaper Chenglei had subscribed to, saying excitedly:

“A-Lei, Xiao Xia, you’re in the newspaper!”

Chapter 398: Father’s Love is Like a Mountain

Inside the new house, Chenglei was using an impact drill to make holes in the wall, preparing to install the water heater.

Jiang Xia was assisting him.

Actually, there wasn’t much she could help with, so she mostly just watched from the side.

When the sound of the drill died down, Jiang Xia heard someone calling out from outside.

Since she heard it first, she said to Chenglei, “Someone’s calling for us.”

The couple walked out.

When Jiang Xia saw who it was, she smiled and asked, “Sister Ling, is there a phone call for us?”

Sister Ling from the production team smiled and said, “No, it’s because you two are in the newspaper! I didn’t misidentify you, did I? This is you two, right?”

Sister Ling pointed at the photo in the newspaper and laughed.

Jiang Xia looked over and was stunned for a moment. It really was them!

The photo in the newspaper was a bit grainy and the printing wasn’t very clear, but one could still see Father Jiang wrapping a scarf around her with a face full of fatherly affection.

She was looking at him with a beaming smile, saying something.

Behind her, Chenglei was helping her adjust her wool hat. In the photo, he looked elegant as jade with a solemn and focused expression, his movements clearly very gentle.

Father Jiang looked refined and easygoing, his posture as upright and handsome as in his younger years, his face overflowing with love.

The entire photograph was brimming with an affection that seemed to spill out of the frame.

A father’s love.

A husband’s love.

In the background was a line of people, all of them watching the scene.

The title of this report was “Father’s Love is Like a Mountain.”

The content summarized how Father Jiang, a high-ranking official, had braved the biting cold wind at four o’clock in the morning to stand in line and buy a water heater for his daughter.

Of course, the article was written with beautiful, touching prose.

When Chenglei saw the newspaper, he had only one thought: get the original film negative of this photo and have it developed.

He planned to call Editor-in-Chief Fan in a bit to ask for her help.

The newspaper office and the publishing house were part of the same organization.

In the city, Father Jiang had just finished his morning meeting. Back in his office, he was carefully cutting out the photo.

He had seen the newspaper that morning; it was Father Jiang’s habit to read the paper while eating breakfast.

Before heading to work, he would skim through the reported content, only reading the key points seriously.

He appeared in the newspapers frequently and never cared about it; he had never once clipped a photo of himself in the past.

This was the only photo he had ever cut out, and he placed it under the glass top of his office desk.

He had already clipped the one from the newspaper at home and placed it under the glass of his desk there.

The one he was clipping now was for his office desk.

On Father Jiang’s desk at home and his desk in the office, there were many photo frames. Most of them were of Jiang Xia and Jiang Dong, the two siblings, from when they were small until they grew up.

He hadn’t paid any attention to the report itself, but he hadn’t expected it to attract so much attention. It established a very positive image for him, even getting reprinted by the Citizens’ Daily.

This made his promotion and transfer in the coming year even more of a certainty.

In the afternoon, after waking up from her nap, Jiang Xia lay lazily in bed.

Chenglei was sitting by the window, clipping that report along with the photo.

Seeing him preserving the photo, Jiang Xia somehow thought of taking pregnancy photos.

She was only going to be pregnant once in this life; she had to record the entire process!

She had already missed the first and second months of pregnancy. Now that she was about to enter the third month, she had to catch the tail end of the period before she started showing!

Generally, pregnant women start showing at four months, but Director Gao had said that since she had a multiple pregnancy, she would probably start showing at three months.

Thinking of this, she called out to the man at the desk, “Chenglei.”

“You’re awake? Hang on, let me finish clipping this. Keep yourself covered; I’ll get your clothes in a moment,” Chenglei replied, assuming she wanted to get up.

Jiang Xia wanted to ask him to get the camera, but seeing him busy, she got out of bed herself to rummage through the chest of drawers for the camera.

Chenglei stood up and draped her coat over her shoulders. “What are you looking for?”

“I want you to take some pregnancy photos for me to record the process of our children slowly growing in my belly. We’ll take one every month from now on.”

Chenglei thought this was a great idea. He buttoned her coat for her. “We can take more. I’ll take one for you every week.”

“That’s not necessary. While the bump isn’t obvious, we’ll take one every month or every half month. Once the bump is noticeable, we’ll take more. Don’t button it.” Jiang Xia grabbed his hand; she needed to change clothes.

“You’re changing? Should you change into something tighter? That way the belly will be more visible.”

If she wore a coat, nothing would show, right?

But even if it wasn’t visible, they could still take one. In the future, looking at this photo, they would know this was how she looked when she was nearly three months pregnant.

“Even in something tight, you still can’t see it.” Jiang Xia took one of Chenglei’s white shirts from the wardrobe.

“You go out first. I’ll call you back in once I’ve changed.”

Although he was more familiar with her body than his own, Chenglei obediently walked out.

He didn’t understand what use she had for his white shirt. His shirt would be very oversized on her, wouldn’t it? Wouldn’t it hide her belly even more?

Chenglei took Jiang Xia’s cup to get her some warm water.

It was best to drink some water after waking up from a nap.

He didn’t have to wait long before Jiang Xia called out, “Chenglei, you can come in now!”

Chenglei pushed open the bedroom door and walked in. “…”

With just one glance, he quickly shut the door, even though there was no one else around.

Mother Zhou wasn’t home and Zhou Zhou hadn’t finished school yet; it was just the two of them.

Jiang Xia smiled and said, “I’ll sit right here. You crouch by the door to take a photo of me. Make sure to make my legs look long!”

Chenglei picked up her coat and tried to wrap it around her, covering the shapely figure she had revealed. “Not taking it!”

Jiang Xia pushed the coat away. “Don’t be so conservative, I’m barely revealing anything! Hurry up, or I’ll catch a cold!”

She called that “barely revealing anything”?

It was practically the same as wearing nothing!

She was wearing his shirt but had tied it in a knot at the front, just barely covering her chest, leaving half her waist exposed!

Her belly button was visible, and her ab lines were visible!

If this was turned into a photo and seen by someone else, what then?

Chenglei reached out to untie the knot in the shirt.

Jiang Xia grabbed his hand. “Just one photo. Only like this can we see the changes in my belly.”

“Wear a qipao for the photo.” A qipao highlighted the figure.

There were a few qipaos in the wardrobe as well.

Jiang Xia looked at him speechlessly. “If I don’t show my stomach, how will you see the difference?”

“I’ll be able to tell.”

“Are you sure you won’t take it? If you won’t, I’ll go to a photo studio.”

Those words carried too much weight!

Chenglei was forced to surrender.

Fine, he’d take it.

After taking it, he would develop it himself and absolutely wouldn’t let anyone else see it.

He let go, took the coat, and tossed it onto the bed. “Quickly, get in position. Don’t freeze.”

Jiang Xia had already thought of a pose. “Remember to crouch down to take it. That way the person in the photo looks taller and slimmer.”

“Mhm.” Carrying the camera, Chenglei walked to the door and crouched down, almost lying on the floor.

Jiang Xia, wearing the white shirt and bell-bottom jeans, sat leaning against the desk by the window, looking down at the book in her hands.

The afternoon light filtered through the window, blurring her face, but her silhouette seemed to glow.

The exposed portion of her waist was very slender, her ab lines were beautiful, and one couldn’t tell at all that she was pregnant.

Chenglei quickly pressed the shutter.

“Done?” Jiang Xia asked.

“Mhm.”

Jiang Xia put down the book and stood up.

Chenglei quickly pressed the shutter a few more times.

Once the photos were taken, Jiang Xia untied the shirt and put on a sweater.

Chenglei set down the camera, draped her coat over her, put his hand around her waist, and kissed her.

Chapter 399: The Return

This cold snap lasted quite a while. By the time the weather finally warmed up again, ten days had passed.

Because it had been so cold and the winds were so strong, the two Zhou brothers hadn’t gone out to sea during those days.

Taking advantage of the downtime, the brothers repurposed a storage room in the old house into a wind-drying room. They also bought bricks and tiles to build an additional drying room next to the kitchen.

This would make it easier to dry and wind-cure fish during damp or humid weather.

Mother Zhou wasn’t particularly fond of Chenglei building a drying room at this time, but Chenglei didn’t subscribe to her superstitions, and she couldn’t do anything to stop him.

Meanwhile, over the past few days, Jiang Xia and Mother Zhou had finished sewing the curtains and the four-piece bedding sets.

Today, Chenglei was at the new house installing the curtain tracks and hanging the curtains.

Zhou Chengsen and Zhou Chengxin were also helping; the three brothers each took one floor.

Since tomorrow was the Winter Solstice and today happened to be Saturday, the family from the second branch had also returned.

Chenglei was responsible for the second floor.

After working for half a day, the three brothers finally finished installing the tracks and hanging the curtains.

Looking at the living room and bedrooms now that the curtains were up, Mother Zhou smiled and said, “Now that these curtains are hanging, the whole house feels different. How can curtains make it look so much better?”

The living room windows were large, so hanging curtains gave the space a very grand feel. Moreover, the pattern on the curtains matched the color of the sofa in the hall, creating a harmonious and comfortable look.

Additionally, a few days ago, Jiang Xia and Chenglei had gone to the city to deliver dried fish. While there, they went shopping and bought some vases, ornaments, green potted plants, and bedside desk lamps to decorate the new house.

With the curtains and these decorative items, every space in the house felt warmer and more elegant.

Tian Caihua was helping clean up the dust from the drilling. Hearing this, she said, “Xiao Xia really has a knack for this. This house looks just like the ones you see on TV. Xiao Xia helped me arrange my living room and hang curtains too, and it feels much nicer now.”

A few days ago, she had asked Jiang Xia to help her decorate her living room, and the transformation was immediate!

Now her home also had curtains, and Jiang Xia had even helped her pick out the fabric.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuxian asked, “Your house has curtains now too? In this same fabric? Where did you buy it?”

She thought the curtain fabrics Jiang Xia chose were very beautiful and stylish. She didn’t know where to get them; she had just gone to the mall and the Supply and Marketing Cooperative last week and hadn’t seen anything like them.

Tian Caihua said triumphantly, “That’s right! We changed them! But they weren’t bought. Xiao Xia had them custom-made at the Textile Factory. The factory hasn’t even started mass-producing them yet, so you can’t buy them anywhere. Xiao Xia specially got some extra curtain fabric from the factory for me, and for free, too. Not just curtains, but also duvet covers and bedsheets. That fabric for the duvet covers is so comfortable; I almost want to use it to make clothes.”

As soon as Li Xiuxian heard they were free, she immediately asked Jiang Xia, “Xiao Xia, is there any more of that curtain fabric? The curtains in my house are old, and I’d like to change them too.”

Jiang Xia shook her head as she swept the dust. “There isn’t any left. I didn’t know Second Sister-in-law wanted to change your curtains, so I didn’t get extra. Big Sister-in-law mentioned it to me beforehand, which is why I got some for her.”

Director Peng liked those patterns very much and felt they would be a huge hit for export. Therefore, he hadn’t charged her any money. He even mentioned that if Jiang Xia had any more good patterns in the future, she could continue providing them to the Textile Factory for production, and he would give her a one percent cut of the dividends.

Li Xiuxian didn’t say anything more. She turned her head away, feeling displeased. If they were free, why not get a bit more? When she was getting them for Tian Caihua, didn’t she think about the fact that I’m also her sister-in-law? Couldn’t she have asked if I needed any?

Those two are clearly ganging up to exclude me!

The more Li Xiuxian looked at the curtains, the more uncomfortable she felt, feeling like she had missed out.

Curtains used a lot of fabric. To buy enough for a whole house, it would cost at least twenty yuan, and it required fabric coupons!

Tian Caihua said there were also bedsheets and duvet covers—a single bedsheet and a duvet cover used quite a bit of fabric!

Mother Zhou brought in a bucket of water and a mop, intending to clean the floor.

Seeing this, Li Xiuxian said, “I’ll go empty this trash. I don’t know where Yingying ran off to play; I hope she didn’t go to the beach. I’ll go check on her while I’m at it!”

With that, she picked up the trash bin and walked out.

She didn’t want to stay there for another second!

She was fuming!

The dust on the floor had already been swept up, so Tian Caihua took the mop from Mother Zhou. “I’ll do the mopping!”

Jiang Xia took a rag and a feather duster to wipe the dust off the sofa, coffee table, and TV cabinet.

The three Zhou brothers also joined in, mopping floors and wiping down the sofa.

Seeing this, Mother Zhou went back to the old house to cook. Once Jiang Xia finished dusting the TV cabinet, she also went back to help with the meal.

As Mother Zhou washed the vegetables, she said, “Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice. Your father called last time and said he’d be back around these few days. Why isn’t he back yet?”

Jiang Xia was also a bit worried, but she said, “There was a cold snap a few days ago; it probably delayed him.”

“That’s likely it.” Since it was just a cold snap and not a typhoon, Mother Zhou wasn’t as frightened.

The boat was large, and its ability to withstand wind and waves was quite strong.

However, she was still worried.

At around five o’clock in the afternoon, Father Zhou finally returned. He brought back a large bag of money, and that didn’t even include what he had deposited into his savings account.

He handed the duffel bag to Chenglei but spoke to Jiang Xia. “Xiao Xia, this is for you. I put the savings book inside the bag. Keep it safe and don’t lose it.”

Father Zhou reminded them to put the money away securely.

He had originally wanted Wealth-bringer to carry this bag of money, but Wealth-bringer was currently carrying three little Wealth-bringers in her belly. The bag was a bit heavy, so he had to let his son do the labor instead.

Li Xiuxian glanced at the duffel bag Father Zhou had handed to Chenglei. Could that entire bag be filled with money?

How much money would that be?

Jiang Xia and Chenglei went back to their room together to put the things away.

It was unlikely Father Zhou would buy clothes for her, so the duffel bag most likely contained money.

Once the couple returned to their room and closed the door, they opened the bag.

Sure enough, it was a large bag of Great Unity notes, along with some other denominations.

Jiang Xia started counting the money with a beaming smile.

With Father Zhou home, the whole family ate together again that evening.

Father Zhou talked about this trip out to sea, where they followed some fishing boats to a certain sea area to catch eels.

Every year, many fishing boats go there to catch eels. The local boats go out at dawn and return at dusk, and they can catch over 5,000 kilograms of eels in a single day.

Their boat was large and equipped with a fish finder, so they caught even more.

“The local boats can’t all be large ones, right? Over 5,000 kilograms a day?” Hearing this, Li Xiuxian asked, “Then Dad must have made a lot of money on this trip, right?”

Father Zhou said with a chuckle, “It was quite good.”

This trip had been a bit longer. After he finished catching eels, he followed a large ship to catch tuna, and then went to catch some anchovies to bring home. Because they covered many sea areas, they earned quite a bit.

After deducting costs and the crew’s wages, there were over 90,000 yuan.

Jiang Xia had once heard a CEO, who had made his fortune from shipping, say that in this golden age, owning a large ship meant earning back your investment in one year and achieving financial freedom in two—it wasn’t a dream.

Of course, there was some exaggeration in those words; he was simply expressing how easy it was to do business in this era and how much money a large ship could make.

Chapter 400: The Gathering

Many people knew that owning a large vessel was a gold mine—fishing boats had their way of making money, and cargo ships had theirs.

Knowing it was one thing, but few could actually afford one.

Li Xiuxian felt a pang of bitterness. Her family had bought their fishing boat a month ago, yet it had only gone out to sea once, earning a pittance—barely enough to be called money!

This month, if it wasn’t a lack of someone to lead her parents out to sea, it was a cold front moving in, making it impossible to go out.

The weather had warmed up considerably today. Since the Winter Solstice had passed, surely they could go out now?

Otherwise, they wouldn’t go out during the first lunar month, and if they didn’t take advantage of the warmer weather now, the machinery on her family’s boat would practically rust away!

“Dad, are you going out to sea the day after tomorrow? How about you take my family’s boat and lead my dad and brother? You just need to show them the ropes until they’re familiar with everything!”

The whole family looked at Li Xiuxian. Zhou Chengsen’s expression darkened immediately. “There’s no need!”

Father Zhou was stunned for a moment before he reacted, saying slowly, “No problem. When the time comes, I’ll give my relatives a hand.”

They were both his sons; it wouldn’t be right to help one and not the other.

Altough it was difficult to treat everyone perfectly equally, his youngest and eldest sons were doing well now, so it was only right to help his second son more.

However, had his second daughter-in-law’s family really not familiarized themselves with the waters after all this time?

Were they that difficult to teach?

Zhou Chengsen interjected, “Dad, there’s no need. You should rest at home for a few days. The night after tomorrow, Xiao Xian and I will take them out to get familiar with things. My father-in-law and the others can’t wake up early in the morning, so we’ll head out in the evening.”

His father had been drifting at sea for so many days; didn’t he need to rest?

He couldn’t believe she had the nerve to ask.

Chenglei didn’t want his father to overwork himself either. “I’ll take them out the morning after tomorrow. I can spend two days showing them the ropes.”

Li Xiuxian pursed her lips. Now you’re offering? When I asked before, you weren’t even willing to wait a moment or head out a bit later!

Otherwise, would her family’s boat have sat idle for an entire month?

Zhou Chengsen refused. “No need. I’ll take them at night; it won’t delay your business. Besides, using light attraction fishing at night yields plenty of fish anyway.”

Normally, his father and the others woke up around four-thirty and were already sailing out by five o’clock. By seven-thirty, they could already be hauling in their first net.

His father-in-law and the others didn’t show up until after seven-thirty. That was equivalent to wasting the time it took to trawl an entire net of fish.

Trawling one less net meant dozens of yuan in lost earnings. Especially for someone like A-Lei, who had great luck at sea; one net could earn over a hundred or even several hundred yuan!

Could they afford to waste that?

Li Xiuxian and the Li family thought a little delay was nothing and assumed others were just being difficult by not wanting to wait!

But as for the losses incurred by waiting—did they plan to compensate for that?

Zhou Chengsen knew that Chenglei and Jiang Xia still owed the shipyard over 600,000 yuan in remaining balance.

Who knew how much pressure that was?

If he owed hundreds of thousands, he would be so anxious he wouldn’t be able to sleep!

Now that Jiang Xia was pregnant with triplets, A-Lei couldn’t easily go out to the distant seas to make money and was restricted to inshore fishing.

The difference in earnings between inshore and ocean fishing was massive!

Sometimes, when dealing with people, one shouldn’t just look at their success and ignore their hardships.

As brothers, if you couldn’t help, the least you could do was not hold them back.

After all, there weren’t many days suitable for going out to sea to begin with.

In December, because of the cold fronts, they couldn’t go out for more than half the month.

January was the month with the most cold fronts; they’d be lucky to get ten to fifteen days at sea.

They didn’t go out during the first lunar month.

Then came February, March, April, and May—the rainy season—so the days they could go out were also limited.

And then in July, August, and September, there were many typhoons, meaning even fewer days at sea!

So, it was never as easy as it seemed!

Besides, helping was a kindness, not an obligation.

Zhou Chengsen’s gaze toward Li Xiuxian was a bit cold. “Since your dad and Big Brother can’t get up in the morning, we’ll change it to evening departures. More fish come out to feed at night anyway.”

To stop her from constantly pestering them, Zhou Chengsen decided to use his own night time to lead them.

Did she really think fishing at sea was that easy? It was either setting out at dawn and returning at dusk or leaving at sunset and returning at sunrise.

Every cent was hard-earned!

Li Xiuxian couldn’t say anything to that. “Fine. I’ll tell my dad when we eat tomorrow. Didn’t you say you were treating everyone to eat out for the Winter Solstice? Let’s invite my dad and the others tomorrow! We didn’t invite them for a meal last time.”

“Alright.” Zhou Chengsen had mentioned treating the family to a meal in town for the Winter Solstice back when they were looking at sofas in the city.

He had told his mother as soon as he returned.

Inviting his in-laws wasn’t a problem. They could just split into two tables, since one table wouldn’t fit everyone anyway.

In addition to the money Father Zhou brought back this time, there were also over 2,500 kg of small dried anchovies. These had been purchased from local fishermen.

Besides the dried anchovies, the big boat had also hauled back 5,000 kg of fresh ones.

So, after finishing dinner, the entire family and Great-Grandma’s household began drying the small fish.

They were busy until midnight, yet they had only finished drying half of the fish. The rest were still in the boat’s cold storage.

The old house and the new house were covered in drying fish; even the houses of the first branch and Great-Grandma were filled.

The next morning, the family got up early and continued drying the anchovies.

Aunt Fen came to help as well, bringing her youngest daughter along.

Jiang Xia paid a high wage—150 yuan a month—but there wasn’t actually that much work to do every day.

She usually just collected, dried, and sorted the fish. The only busy time was when they were frying the small fish.

But they didn’t fry them every day.

She felt guilty receiving such a high wage.

Seeing how busy it was today, she brought her daughter to help, thinking they could get more work done.

When Li Xiuxian got up and saw Aunt Fen helping in the courtyard so early, she was surprised. “Aunt Fen, why is Ya Mei here so early?”

Aunt Fen’s daughter was named Zhou Pan, but the villagers called her Ya Mei.

She couldn’t hear, but seeing everyone looking at her, she offered a smile.

Aunt Fen smiled and replied, “Yes, we came to help Xiao Xia and Ah Huan process the small dried fish.”

Li Xiuxian’s expression shifted.

The last time she asked, Jiang Xia said she wasn’t hiring anyone!

Then she turned around and hired an outsider!

Li Xiuxian went into the kitchen with a stony face to get breakfast. After eating, she said to Zhou Chengsen, who was busy drying fish, “I’m going back to tell my dad to come to town for lunch today. You keep an eye on Yingying!”

With that, she pushed her bicycle out and left. She didn’t return all morning, not showing up until eleven o’clock.

By then, all the small fish were out drying.

Since there was no more room at home, they dried them on the deck of the big boat, at the village drying ground, and on the beach they had purchased.

Since it was Sunday and the children were off school, Jiang Xia gave Zhou Wenguang ten yuan and told him to find some playmates to help guard the fish.

They just needed to flip them over every so often.

The weather was good now and the wind was strong; these tiny fish would be dry in just two days.

Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa didn’t have to go to the convenience store today either. One elder stayed at the beach and the other at the drying ground to keep watch.

The two elders were afraid the children would be unreliable.

However, to a child, earning one yuan was a lot, so those kids were extremely diligent.

They only hoped to do a good job this time so that they would be asked back for such a good gig in the future.

At noon, Chenglei drove the tractor, bringing the whole family to town for the meal.

The Zhou family was already a large group, and the Li family was numerous as well.

They were split between two large tables.

Li Xiuxian’s sister-in-law approached the Zhou family’s table with a wine glass, smiling. “I’d like to propose a toast to everyone. Thank you, relatives, for taking such good care of Xiao Xian all these years.”

The whole family stood up, raised their glasses, exchanged polite pleasantries, and toasted with her.

Then, she made her way over to Jiang Xia’s side.

Chapter 401: Something Seems a Bit Off

He Shunyu, the sister-in-law of Li Xiuxian, approached Jiang Xia. She placed her hand affectionately on Jiang Xia’s shoulder and smiled at Chenglei. “Chenglei, this must be your wife, right? On your wedding day, my side of the family happened to have a celebration as well, so I didn’t get the chance to meet her.”

Chenglei glanced subtly at the hand on Jiang Xia’s shoulder. It looked heavy, and more importantly, it was a bit oily—likely because she had just been gnawing on some bones and hadn’t wiped her hands clean. He stood up and said to Jiang Xia, “We didn’t get to toast Sister-in-law at the wedding, so let’s make up for it now. A toast to our relative-in-law. I’ll drink wine, and you drink tea.”

Jiang Xia took the hint and stood up, moving to Chenglei’s side to face He Shunyu. She smiled and said, “I’ll toast you with tea instead of wine, Sister-in-law.”

The two of them raised their cups to He Shunyu.

He Shunyu clinked her cup against theirs and looked at Jiang Xia with a smile. “Chenglei, your wife is truly beautiful! Not only is she pretty, but she’s also so capable. I heard she’s fluent in many foreign languages, right? You two went to the Canton Fair to work as translators and made a fortune, didn’t you? That’s amazing! I don’t even know what the Canton Fair is! Xiao Xia, exactly how many foreign languages are you fluent in?”

Jiang Xia replied, “Actually, I’m just like everyone else. I’m only truly fluent in one language—our mother tongue. I wouldn’t say I’m ‘fluent’ in the others.”

“See, that’s what an education does for you; you’re so well-spoken! You and Chenglei really are a perfect match. You both have so much talent. Chenglei has only been back from the military for a short time, and he’s already become a ten-thousand-yuan household, ranking third in the entire city! He’s been on TV and in the newspapers! You’re the most capable person in this whole area!”

Chenglei didn’t have much patience for these social niceties, nor did he want Jiang Xia to stand for too long. He put his arm around her and guided her back to her seat.

Father Zhou spoke up, “He only got third place because the truly wealthy people didn’t bother joining in. What talent does Chenglei have? Xiao Xia is the talented one; his skills don’t even compare to hers.”

“Father Zhou, you’re too humble!” He Shunyu remarked.

Just then, the server brought out the soup. Chenglei picked up Jiang Xia’s bowl to serve her. “Sister-in-law, the fish soup at this restaurant is quite good. You should try some while it’s hot.”

To prevent He Shunyu’s heavy hand from landing on Jiang Xia’s shoulder again, Chenglei kept his arm draped over the back of Jiang Xia’s chair after he sat down.

He Shunyu laughed. “No rush, it just came to the table and it’s still piping hot. I’ll try it in a bit.”

She continued, “Xiao Xia, Xiao Xian mentioned that Father Zhou brought back a lot of small dried fish from his distant seas voyage to make those seasoned snacks. Do you have enough hands to help? I happen to be free and could lend a hand. As you know, I usually handle large-scale banquets and wedding feasts for the villagers. I won’t say my cooking is world-class, but it’s certainly decent enough.”

Upon hearing this, Tian Caihua immediately cut in, “No need to ask! We’ve already hired everyone we need! Even if we hadn’t, my own family’s sisters-in-law have been wanting to come!”

The underlying meaning was: You couldn’t even get a spot if you waited in line!

Jiang Xia followed up smoothly, “The decision of whom to hire is made by my partner since she’s the one handling the daily operations. I only help out occasionally, so I don’t make the calls on that.”

Even when it came to hiring Aunt Fen, Jiang Xia had consulted He Xinghuan first. Only after she said Aunt Fen was good did Jiang Xia go to hire her.

After all, they were the ones who would be working together most of the time. Hiring someone He Xinghuan didn’t like would only cause unnecessary stress. If He Xinghuan wasn’t happy with someone, Jiang Xia wouldn’t hire them.

He Shunyu didn’t like Tian Caihua. They were from the same village and had never gotten along since they were children.

Ignoring Tian Caihua, she turned back to Jiang Xia. “Your new house is almost ready Move into, isn’t it? When are you holding the housewarming feast? I…”

Tian Caihua interrupted again, “Don’t even think about that! An uncle from our village is a head chef, and we’ve already asked for his help! He’s helping Chenglei out of the goodness of his heart, for free!”

He Shunyu shot Tian Caihua a sharp look.

Mother Zhou said with a smile, “Sister-in-law, if you’re free on New Year’s Day, come over with your family for a meal. Bring everyone.”

Mother Zhou had asked a fortune teller to pick two auspicious dates for the move. One was New Year’s Day, and the other was on the Little New Year.

The Little New Year was too late.

She had initially worried that they wouldn’t be ready by New Year’s Day, but everything was prepared now.

Furthermore, New Year’s Day was a public holiday, so the second brother’s family and Jiang Xia’s parents would all be free. Thus, they settled on that date.

Coincidentally, Big Brother’s new ship was also scheduled to be delivered that day—a double celebration!

Unable to push her agenda further, He Shunyu smiled and said, “We’ll definitely be there! Well, I’ll head back to my table and have some soup now.”

“Alright,” Mother Zhou replied pleasantly.

After lunch, the family returned to the village.

Jiang Xia got off the tractor at the entrance of the production team and called Jiang Dong.

The Winter Solstice happened to be Jiang Dong’s birthday.

She called Zhang Fuyan’s house directly.

Last Sunday, she had tried calling Jiang Dong at the research institute, but he wasn’t there. He wasn’t at his school dormitory either. Finally, she had called Zhang Fuyan and found him there.

Today, she simply called Zhang Fuyan first.

Sure enough, Jiang Dong was with her.

Jiang Dong said happily, “Thanks, Sis! I received the birthday gift you and Brother-in-law sent! Thank you! It’s way too expensive, though. You don’t need to spend so much money in the future. And that shop you bought for me… I’m not going to open a business. Don’t buy me such pricey things from now on.”

“If it’s useful, it’s not a waste of money. You can keep it to collect rent; that shop is bound to be valuable in the future.” Jiang Xia had sent Jiang Dong a computer. She had asked Zhang Rong to buy it and mail it directly to him.

It was only during her last call with Jiang Dong that Jiang Xia realized the storefront Chenglei had bought previously was also a birthday gift for Jiang Dong, rather than something Jiang Dong had wanted to buy himself.

Jiang Xia felt like the two of them were hiding something from her, but she couldn’t get anything out of them when she asked. She had asked Zhang Fuyan as well, but she had also feigned ignorance.

Eventually, Jiang Xia stopped prying. She would find out sooner or later.

“Sis, are you moving into the new house on New Year’s Day? I’ll come back then.”

“How many days off do you have?”

“One day. I’ll take an extra day of leave.”

“Alright then!” Jiang Xia reminded Jiang Dong to eat some glutinous rice balls and longevity noodles before asking him to hand the phone to Zhang Fuyan.

Jiang Xia and Zhang Fuyan had much more to talk about—mostly with Zhang Fuyan doing the talking.

She asked Jiang Xia how to make dumpling skins.

The two talked for nearly twenty minutes before hanging up.

In the capital:

Jiang Dong couldn’t help but comment, “Every time my sister calls you, she seems to have an endless supply of things to talk about! With me, she only says a few words and then hangs up!”

His sister had spoken to him for two minutes, but she had talked to Xiao Yan for nearly twenty.

The difference in treatment was too much!

Zhang Fuyan replied, “That’s because you have nothing to say. Xiaxia isn’t a woman of many words to begin with. When I’m on the phone with her, I’m the one doing all the talking. Besides, I was asking her how to wrap dumplings; of course we had a lot to discuss.”

Jiang Dong felt slightly wronged. “I have plenty I want to say to my sister, but every time I start talking, she tells me to write it in a letter. Lately, she just tells me to give the phone to you.”

Zhang Fuyan teased, “That’s because you talk too much nonsense, and long-distance calls are expensive.”

Jiang Dong: “…”

Did he really talk that much nonsense? Did he?

Zhang Fuyan was truly struggling with the dough!

She wanted to make dumplings and longevity noodles for Jiang Dong, but she had been kneading the dough all morning to no avail.

“Xiaxia just told you to eat glutinous rice balls, right? Let’s have those today instead. We have peanuts at home, so I’ll make a peanut filling. We’ll have peanut glutinous rice balls and skip the dumplings.”

“Fine.”

An hour later, Jiang Dong finally sat down to his feast of glutinous rice balls and longevity noodles.

He looked at the glutinous rice balls, which were as large as eggs, and couldn’t help but ask, “Are these actually cooked through?”

“They’re cooked! Look, these longevity noodles turned into a paste because I boiled them too long, which proves things shouldn’t be cooked for eternity. Hurry up and try one.”

Jiang Dong looked at the bowl of noodles and thought she might have a point.

So, he scooped up one of the massive glutinous rice balls and took a bite. The texture felt a bit off… “It seems like…”

Before he could finish his sentence, a cloud of white “smoke” puffed out of his mouth as soon as he opened it!

Zhang Fuyan’s face was instantly covered in dry flour!

Jiang Dong: “…”

His sister’s instructions must have been wrong!

Chapter 402: Interest

After their meal, the family piled onto the tractor to head home.

Zhou Ying and Zhou Zhou began discussing the upcoming New Year’s Day arts performance at their school.

Zhou Ying said, “I have to perform a dance on stage. I’ve been practicing every day after school. Does your school have performances?”

Zhou Zhou replied, “We have them too. I’m also going to dance. In our class, some people are dancing, some are singing, and others are performing skits.”

“Your class has that many acts? Our class only has a dance!”

Second Sister-in-law said, “Zhou Zhou’s school is just a village elementary school. There are only one or two classes per grade. The whole school only has about ten classes in total. If every class didn’t prepare several performances, the show would be over in no time. What would be the point of watching that?”

Zhou Zhou remained silent after hearing this; she hadn’t realized that was the reason.

Jiang Xia turned back to ask the two children, “So, do you like dancing, singing, or performing?”

The winter break was approaching, and it was nearly time to sign Zhou Zhou up for some extracurricular classes. Zhou Zhou seemed to have quite an interest in music.

As soon as she heard the question, Zhou Ying shouted, “I like dancing!”

Zhou Zhou said, “I like singing, but I don’t really like dancing.”

Back on Children’s Day in June, she had been very envious seeing others dance, but now that she was actually performing on stage, she found it was just okay—not that much fun.

Jiang Xia asked further, “Is there anything else you like? What about drawing? Or the piano? Do you like those?”

Zhou Zhou replied, “I like drawing, and I like the piano. Piano music sounds so beautiful!”

Mother Jiang had given Jiang Xia some cassette tapes of piano music. Jiang Xia had left them by the radio and played them a few times, and Zhou Zhou had thought they sounded wonderful.

“What’s a piano?” Zhou Ying asked.

Zhou Zhou explained, “It’s a musical instrument. It’s black and very big, and the songs it plays are beautiful! Da-da-da-da, da-da-da…”

Zhou Zhou hummed the melody of A Comme Amour.

Jiang Xia wasn’t surprised. Zhou Zhou had an excellent memory; she could sing a song after hearing it only once.

However, there probably weren’t any singing classes in town right now. She would just have to buy more tapes for Zhou Zhou to listen to.

Zhou Ying was puzzled. “…Da-da-da-da… what’s so good about that? It doesn’t even have lyrics.”

“I can’t sing it properly,” Zhou Zhou said. “When we get home, I’ll play it for you. Once you hear it, you’ll think it’s beautiful too.”

“Alright!”

Jiang Xia asked Chenglei, “Do you know if there are any piano teachers in town?”

Before Chenglei could speak, Second Sister-in-law chimed in immediately. “There are! There’s someone who teaches! I heard there’s an old lady in town who came back from studying abroad; she knows piano. She only started taking students this year; she didn’t dare to take them before. I’ve even seen people from the city specifically drive their children to our town to learn from her. I heard her lessons are very expensive. But she charges some students one yuan per lesson and others two yuan. She only charges the town students the lower price. I heard those two students from the city are charged five yuan per lesson! For a one-hour session.”

Tian Caihua clicked her tongue in shock. “Five yuan? That’s way too expensive!”

Second Sister-in-law said, “Isn’t it? I don’t know if she’s playing favorites, seeing the city students’ parents driving them there in cars and decided to charge them more.”

Jiang Xia shook her head. “Probably not. It’s likely based on the level of difficulty.”

Even in modern times, piano lessons were never cheap. Jiang Xia had once heard a senior university professor say that when she was a child, she studied under a professor-level educator for ten yuan an hour. Associate professors charged eight yuan.

Even in later decades, piano lesson prices remained high. Different grades meant different prices, and one had to account for the teacher’s skill level. Prices varied wildly between teachers.

That old lady in town was likely very skilled; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to charge five yuan a lesson.

Jiang Xia planned to ask Zhou Zhou privately once they were home if she truly wanted to learn.

Second Sister-in-law asked Jiang Xia, “Xiao Xia, are you thinking of sending Zhou Zhou to learn piano?”

“Mhm,” Jiang Xia replied. “But it depends on whether Zhou Zhou wants to.”

Second Sister-in-law then asked Zhou Zhou, “Zhou Zhou, do you want to learn piano during the break?”

Zhou Zhou shook her head. It was so expensive; she didn’t want to.

Second Sister-in-law smiled and said, “If you want to learn, you can go with your sister! When the holidays come…”

Zhou Chengsen interrupted, “When the holidays come, Zhou Zhou can stay with her sister in town. Your Second Uncle will take you both to learn the piano together, how does that sound?”

Second Sister-in-law: “…”

She had originally planned to send Zhou Ying back to the old house for the winter break so she could learn English from Jiang Xia.

Zhou Ying immediately cheered, “Great! Zhou Zhou, come stay with me in town! We can learn piano and English together!”

Zhou Zhou shook her head again. “I only like listening to it; I don’t want to learn.”

Hearing this, Zhou Ying pouted. “Then I won’t learn either.”

Second Sister-in-law: “…”

She was truly going to be exasperated to death by her daughter’s lack of ambition!

Jiang Xia didn’t say anything more, deciding to ask again when the break actually started. Right now, Zhou Zhou was likely scared off by the price. If Zhou Zhou was truly interested, Jiang Xia would naturally find a way to let her learn.

After the Winter Solstice, the sun was bright every day. There was little wind, and it felt warm and pleasant.

For the past two evenings, Zhou Chengsen and Second Sister-in-law had been returning to take the two men from the Li family out to sea.

The couple would return to the village only after eating. They went out to sea at five thirty in the evening and didn’t return until four o’clock the next morning. They only went back to town to sleep after selling the fish.

They both took the morning off work these past two days to catch up on sleep, only going into work in the afternoon.

While their night hauls were quite good—earning thirty or forty yuan the first day and seventy or eighty the second after deducting fuel and labor—the grueling schedule was too much. After two nights of staying up, Second Sister-in-law couldn’t take it anymore, and neither could the Li father and son.

Turning night into day was far too miserable!

Li Qingmin was the first to speak up. “We’re familiar with the rhythm now, so A-Sen doesn’t need to take us out at night anymore. We’ll go out during the day instead. We’ll get up at four thirty in the morning and follow A-Lei and the others. I really can’t handle the night trips; I’m too exhausted!”

Li’s father agreed. “Night trips won’t work. We’re too sleepy. And during the day, the house is too noisy to get any sleep at all.”

Zhou Chengsen nodded. “Fine. You can go at night or during the day; just pick a time.”

And so, on the third day, the father and son finally appeared at the pier punctually at four thirty to head out to sea with Chenglei and Big Brother.

Every day following the Winter Solstice, Chenglei was out at sea from dawn until dusk.

Jiang Xia was also very busy at home.

More than 2,500 kg of small fried fish had to be processed, and Jiang Xia helped with the packaging every day.

Previously, she had helped keep the fire going, but after tending the stove from morning to night, the smell of oil smoke had ruined her appetite. She stopped tending the fire and instead took responsibility for weighing and packaging with Mother Zhou.

While everyone else worked from dawn to dusk, Jiang Xia worked for one hour and rested for the next. During her hour of rest, she would lie in the courtyard soaking up the sun to get some calcium while listening to her Korean language tapes.

Or, she would sit under the grape arbor doing translations, working through Gaokao practice problems, or drawing fabric patterns for the textile factory.

Thanks to the countless handwritten posters and drawing assignments from her previous life, Jiang Xia’s drawing skills were quite good.

Aunt Fen and He Xinghuan carried a large basin of finished fried fish over to Mother Zhou for packaging.

As they returned to the house next door, Aunt Fen couldn’t help but remark, “Xiao Xia is so diligent and ambitious. I’ve never seen her go out just to play.”

The village had many new brides; some were hardworking, others were lazy. In the village, “hardworking” for a new bride usually meant doing the housework: laundry, cooking, cleaning, raising chickens, and tending the vegetable garden. If one did all that, they were considered diligent.

Doing those tasks wasn’t easy, but no matter how much housework there was, there was usually a large block of free time every day to chat with neighbors or play cards. The more industrious ones would weave fishing nets to make money while they chatted.

But someone like Jiang Xia? Aside from Zhou Guohua’s wife, they had never seen anyone like her.

He Xinghuan replied, “If she wasn’t so diligent, how could she earn so much money? The God of Wealth doesn’t look after lazybones.”

“True.”

The days passed in a busy blur until it was the day before New Year’s Day.

Chapter 403: Moving to the New House

On New Year’s Day, the auspicious time to move into the new house was three o’clock in the morning.

The family went to bed at eight o’clock the night before and woke up promptly at two-thirty. After brushing their teeth and washing their faces, everyone carried a symbolic item to move from the old house to the new one.

The customs for entering a new residence were different from what Jiang Xia had seen online in her past life.

Father Zhou was the first to enter, carrying a cage of chickens into the house. Two oranges, a red envelope, and some longan leaves were tied to the chicken cage.

Mother Zhou followed him, carrying a load of water on a shoulder pole. Two oranges and a red envelope were likewise tied to the buckets. Longan leaves and oriental arborvitae leaves were placed in the water.

Chenglei followed with a load of crates. One side was filled with rice, and the other with paddy. Red envelopes, oranges, and arborvitae leaves were also placed on top of the grain. In his hands, he carried two round bamboo trays without holes, one large and one small, which also had oranges and red envelopes hanging from them.

Jiang Xia carried a load with two baskets. Inside were an abacus, a steelyard scale, a mirror, a ruler, apples, seeds for five types of grain, coins, candy, pork, an oil lamp, pastries, and such, as well as two pairs of new trousers for the couple.

Lastly, Zhou Zhou carried two stalks of sugarcane, which also had red envelopes tied to them.

In short, no one could enter the house empty-handed.

Following custom, the items brought by the mistress of the house, Jiang Xia, were the most varied, though fortunately, they weren’t too heavy. The heaviest items, the grain, were carried by Chenglei.

As the family walked out of the old house, they saw Zhou Bingqiang’s family approaching, each also carrying a load of things. Everyone was using flashlights to light the way.

Wen Wan shone her light toward Jiang Xia, glancing at what she was carrying. Seeing that their items were almost the same, she figured the customs were identical. However, since their new house was further away, Wen Wan’s shoulders already ached from the weight!

At this moment, no one greeted each other; according to tradition, they weren’t supposed to speak.

Each family opened their respective courtyard gates and entered their houses.

The family entered in a line. As soon as Chenglei moved inside, he set down his load and turned back to take Jiang Xia’s baskets. “Is it heavy?”

“Not at all,” Jiang Xia replied. “It’s only a distance of ten or twenty meters. It’s just a few steps. I wouldn’t mind even if it were heavy!”

She would be willing to endure such a load many times over for a move like this!

Chenglei was thinking about the apartment in the city. When they moved there, Jiang Xia would still have to carry a load like this up the stairs, which wouldn’t be as convenient as it was now. He felt these rituals were unnecessary.

The customs for moving in varied from place to place; one just needed to bring items with good meanings. Whatever kind of life one hoped to lead in the new home was reflected in what they carried during the move.

But his father and mother insisted on this. Jiang Xia had also agreed to follow the local customs. If they had listened to him, Jiang Xia wouldn’t have had to carry so much. He would have had her hold an apple in one hand and a piece of candy in the other. He only hoped she would be safe and healthy this lifetime, and that her days would be as sweet as candy.

Mother Zhou said with a smile, “Alright, now that we’re inside, it’s fine. Xiao Xia, go back to your room and get some more sleep!”

Father Zhou took the oil lamp Jiang Xia had brought in and placed it at the ancestral shrine. Then he picked up the two pieces of pork and the pastries and said to Chenglei, “You can go back to sleep too! Your mother and I will finish setting everything up. A-Lei, take the baskets Xiao Xia brought in and put them in your room. Leave them there for three days.”

“Okay,” Jiang Xia replied.

She looked at Zhou Zhou. “Zhou Zhou, are you going back to your room to sleep? Are you brave enough to sleep alone on the third floor?”

Zhou Zhou nodded. “I am!”

“Come on then, Auntie will take you up.”

Chenglei picked up the load of baskets and went upstairs with Jiang Xia and Zhou Zhou to return to their rooms.

Jiang Xia first saw Zhou Zhou to her room. “Are you sure? Do you want to sleep on the second floor instead?”

Zhou Zhou looked at Jiang Xia, puzzled. “I’m sure! Why wouldn’t I be?”

Jiang Xia was just worried the little girl would be scared, but seeing she truly wasn’t, she let it be. “Then I’ll stay here until you fall asleep before I go down.”

“No need, Auntie, you should go sleep too! If you stay and talk to me, I’ll be even less likely to fall asleep.”

Jiang Xia: “…Alright then, I’m going down to sleep.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Xia left Zhou Zhou’s room, leaving a bedside lamp on for her. The lights in the hall and on the stairs were also left on.

Once Jiang Xia went downstairs, Zhou Zhou couldn’t help but look around her room. She touched the mattress, the bedside lamp, and the duvet cover.

This bed was so comfortable! The duvet was beautiful, too, with such a cute pattern! The desk lamp was also very pretty.

Zhou Zhou tucked herself under the covers. She was a bit excited and couldn’t sleep, so she rolled around for a while. But she was a child after all; after playing for a bit, she closed her eyes and fell asleep shortly after.

Chenglei came up fifteen minutes later to check on her. Seeing she was asleep, he turned off the light and went downstairs to bed.

At seven o’clock the next morning, Tian Caihua, Great-Grandma’s family, and the uncles and aunts from the village arrived to help. Li Xiuxian also returned early to assist.

The chef for the day was Uncle Dong. Usually, when people in the village held celebrations, they asked him to take charge of the cooking. Zhou Bingqiang had tried to hire him first, but he had refused and came to help Jiang Xia’s family instead.

The braised pork belly needed to be stewed first. Uncle Dong said, “Find two people to peel the taro first. I’m going to start stewing the pork.”

Having said that, Uncle Dong went to process the meat.

He Xinghuan immediately said, “I’ll do the peeling!”

Tian Caihua added, “Second Sister-in-law, you should help peel the taro too!”

Li Xiuxian’s face darkened. Tian Caihua was doing this on purpose. She knew very well that Li Xiuxian was most afraid of peeling taro; every time she did, she’d have an allergic reaction and her hands would itch intensely. “I can’t. I get an allergy every time I peel taro.”

Tian Caihua was indeed doing it on purpose. She had expected Li Xiuxian to refuse and immediately said, “Then you and Great-Grandma go clean the chickens! I’ll do the peeling.”

Compared to cleaning chickens, Tian Caihua preferred peeling taro.

Li Xiuxian: “…”

She didn’t like cleaning chickens either. When plucking feathers, the smell of them being scalded by boiling water was foul! Besides, cleaning chickens was the most troublesome task. She only wanted to wash vegetables or do the dishes.

But she had arrived late. People were already washing the vegetables and dishes. Those simple, clean tasks were already taken.

Zhou Chengsen said, “Come over and help me hold the chickens; I’ll kill them.”

Li Xiuxian had no choice but to bite the bullet and help Zhou Chengsen. By the time they finished the dozen or so chickens, the skin on her hands was wrinkled from the water, and she smelled of chicken droppings and wet feathers.

Just as Li Xiuxian wanted to go inside for a drink of water and a rest, Tian Caihua spoke up again, “Second Sister-in-law, hurry and clean the fish! There’s no time; Uncle Dong is about to start frying them! It just so happens only you two are free!”

Zhou Chengsen replied, “Alright!”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Very well. In just one morning, Tian Caihua had successfully made Li Xiuxian end up smelling fishy and foul!

Tian Caihua was delighted. When the second branch moved into their new house, she had been the one stuck cleaning the chickens and fish. Today, she finally got her payback!

Close to noon, two brand-new green Jeeps pulled up outside Jiang Xia’s new house.

The one in the front didn’t even have license plates yet.

Jiang Dong jumped down from the vehicle.

Chapter 404: The Wedding Gift

Jiang Dong got out of the car and walked to the vehicle behind him to open the door for Mother Jiang and Zhang Fuyan.

Mother Jiang had been the one driving that car.

Zhang Fuyan had sat in the back car with her instead of accompanying Jiang Dong in the lead vehicle.

By the time Jiang Dong reached them, Mother Jiang had already opened her door and stepped out.

Jiang Dong then helped Zhang Fuyan out of the car. She had only recently regained the ability to walk after her injury.

Jiang Dong had purchased two cars. The one he had driven was intended as a housewarming gift for his sister and brother-in-law. The car behind it was his own, which Mother Jiang had driven so they would have a vehicle to use when they eventually returned to the city.

The three of them stepped out of the cars and went to the back to retrieve the housewarming gifts.

Father Jiang and Mother Jiang had prepared quite a lot, and the trunks of both Jeeps were stuffed to the brim.

The two Jeeps had attracted the attention of the villagers from the moment they entered the village. A pack of children had even been chasing after them, running all the way behind the vehicles until they stopped.

Today, there were two housewarming parties happening in this alley at the same time. With so many relatives and friends visiting and villagers gathering to help, it was as lively as could be. Consequently, the alley was packed with onlookers watching the spectacle.

Mother Jiang was dressed today in a black cheongsam-style dress topped with a rose-red overcoat and slender high heels. The black and white cheongsam was elegant and dignified without being too flashy, and when paired with the dark red coat, she looked both festive and sophisticated.

Zhang Fuyan wore a white down jacket over a black turtleneck, paired with a trendy red checkered wool pinafore dress. A red scarf was wrapped around her neck, making her look stylish, fashionable, and full of youthful energy while still fitting the festive occasion.

Jiang Dong wore a deep gray sweater under a black overcoat, with a red scarf draped around his neck as well. Mother Jiang had prepared the scarf for him, complaining that his outfit wasn’t festive enough and insisting that a bit of red would brighten things up.

Father Jiang had one too, but he was busy with a rural inspection and outreach event today and couldn’t make it yet. He would only be able to come after work.

The way the three of them were dressed and their overall aura were clearly different from the villagers.

People watched them from a distance, whispering and huddled in small groups.

A distant relative of Zhou Bingqiang’s family asked from next door, “Who are they? Didn’t someone say Guohua’s wife’s family was coming? Is this them? Are they really that rich?”

“No! Wen Wan’s family are sheep farmers. They don’t have this kind of style. This is Chenglei’s wife’s family.”

Having heard that Wen Wan’s family had arrived, Wen Wan, Zhou Guohua, and Zhou Bingqiang’s couple had all come out to greet them, just in time to overhear this conversation.

Wen Wan: “…”

The person continued, “Aside from Zhou Yongfu’s house, how could Zhou Bingqiang’s family have such wealthy relatives?”

Zhou Bingqiang: “…”

Why wouldn’t I have wealthy relatives? He thought. His eldest aunt had married someone in Hong Kong and returned every Lunar New Year with bags full of gifts. In terms of net worth, Jiang Xia’s family couldn’t possibly compare to his aunt from Hong Kong!

Not wanting to argue with them, Zhou Bingqiang invited Wen Father inside.

Just then, someone else remarked, “That car doesn’t have a license plate yet and it’s decorated with a big red flower. It must be a housewarming gift from Jiang Xia’s family, right?”

“Looks like it. Why else would they drive two cars here? They’re both brand new, but only one has a plate.”

“Tsk, they’re truly rich. I thought Zhou Chenglei was wealthy enough, but it seems Jiang Xia’s family is even richer.”

“Isn’t that obvious? If Jiang Xia’s family isn’t rich, who is?”

Wen Wan stared at the two brand-new Jeeps. The one in front indeed had no license plate and was adorned with a big red flower; it certainly looked like a gift.

Wen Wan couldn’t help but glance at the things Wen Father and her stepmother had brought.

Two baskets containing a bit of rice, two bottles of liquor, a rooster, two strips of pork, some pastries, about sixty-six centimeters of fabric, and likely a ten-yuan red envelope.

And that was it!

They hadn’t even bought a decent quilt to hang as a festive banner!

Her face burned with shame. Everything they had brought put together wasn’t even worth more than a single tire on that Jeep.

Zhou Bingqiang glanced at the Jeep and then looked away. It wasn’t that he wasn’t envious, but this was simply something he couldn’t compete with.

He had known for a long time that Jiang Xia’s family background was extraordinary. Back when Jiang Xia was constantly clamoring for a divorce, he had mocked her, saying she was a canary used to fine grain who couldn’t stomach coarse tea and simple food. He was certain she could never survive in the countryside and would eventually run back to her “castle.”

He never expected that within less than a year of her marriage, she would turn a mud-brick house into a castle. There was no comparison—none at all.

As for the gifts Wen Father had brought, for a housewarming, the gifts from the wife’s side were usually like this; there was nothing technically wrong with it. Only families that were exceptionally well-off or particularly doted on their daughters would prepare something more substantial.

The Wen family raised over twenty sheep, and winter was the best time to sell them, so their income wasn’t bad. However, the woman with Wen Father was only Wen Wan’s stepmother. How could she bear to give too much? These gifts followed the basic etiquette, with nothing missing that was supposed to be there.

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife said with a fake smile, “Let’s go inside!”

Bringing such a measly amount of stuff, so stingy, yet they have the nerve to stand there and watch the excitement! Aren’t they afraid of making fools of themselves?

Wen Wan felt extremely embarrassed and turned to go inside as well. From now on, they shouldn’t expect her to help her natal family with anything!

Only Zhou Guohua remained enthusiastic, taking the baskets from them with a smile. “Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Little Sister, please come in!”

Wen Father smiled and agreed, looking over his daughter’s new house. “This house is well-built.”

Wen Wan’s stepmother secretly rolled her eyes at Wen Wan, then turned back to call her own daughter. “Get inside!”

Wen Wan’s younger sister, Wen Rou, was gazing at Jiang Dong as if she had seen a god. “You go ahead, I want to look at the cars.”

She watched as Jiang Dong began unloading items from the back of the Jeep.

At that moment, Zhou Chenglei, Jiang Xia, and the rest of the Zhou family all walked out together.

“Mom, Jiang Dong, Fuyan, you’re here!” Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei stepped forward with smiles.

Father Zhou, Mother Zhou, and the others also offered their greetings. “My in-laws, Jiang Dong, Xiao Yan.”

Tian Caihua was the most boisterous. “Oh, my in-laws are finally here! Quick, come inside! Come inside! Where is Father Jiang? Has he not arrived yet?”

Mother Jiang smiled as she greeted everyone. “I’m sorry we’re so late. Xiaxia’s father has some business to attend to. He hasn’t finished work yet and will come by later.”

Jiang Dong was already lifting some festive banners Mother Jiang had prepared. When he heard Jiang Xia’s voice, he immediately set them down and turned to give her a quick hug. “Sis! I’m back!”

Zhou Chenglei: “…”

Jiang Dong only hugged her for a second before letting go. He looked at Jiang Xia’s belly, which was still flat. “How come my nephews and nieces haven’t changed at all?”

He had almost finished getting the strollers ready!

Mother Jiang gave him a tug and a glare. “Get over here and move the things.”

Why does he have such a big mouth? If you don’t know what to say, don’t say anything! Children could be very sensitive about such talk.

Jiang Dong rubbed his nose and hurried to move the gifts.

Jiang Xia laughed.

Zhang Fuyan gave Jiang Xia a hug and handed her a red envelope. “Happy housewarming! May your family prosper and your home be filled with wealth! I’ve also prepared a gift for you; it’s in the car. Jiang Dong will bring it in for you in a bit.”

Jiang Xia didn’t take the red envelope but kept her arm around her. “Why a red envelope too? There’s no need for that; it’s the thought that counts! Please, don’t be so formal.”

Jiang Dong chimed in, “I told her there was no need and that my sister wouldn’t take it, but she insisted on bringing it anyway.”

Zhang Fuyan glared at Jiang Dong. “You are you, and I am me! Am I the type of person to attend a banquet without giving a gift?”

She then teased Jiang Xia, “Take it! I’m planning on moving into a new home eventually, and I expect you to pay me back double! If you don’t take it, aren’t you cutting off my path to wealth?”

She made a joke out of it and shoved the red envelope directly into Jiang Xia’s pocket.

Jiang Xia stopped refusing, thinking she could just return the favor later. She joked back, “Then it’s settled! I’ll take it and I’m never giving it back!”

“Then give it back to me! I’m losing out!”

“No way! Once it’s in my pocket, it’s mine!” Jiang Xia laughed, linking arms with her to lead her inside.

The rest of the Zhou family followed, helping carry the various gifts into the house.

Chapter 405: Gifts (Part 2)

Mother Jiang had brought everything that was expected—missing nothing and choosing only the highest quality and largest portions for every item.

In addition to the standard items required by tradition for good luck, she had prepared many extra gifts. The trunks of both Jeeps were packed to the brim.

Each member of the Zhou family carried armfuls of gifts as they walked into the house.

This scene sparked another round of whispering and gossiping among the villagers:

“Is that a large bundle of woolen blankets? You can tell at a glance they’re high-quality; even the packaging looks expensive!”

“Why did she buy two bundles? I suppose it must be for ‘good things coming in pairs.’”

“The writing on that other bag is all squiggles like chicken scratches—definitely imported. I wonder what kind of quilt it is.”

“Probably silk duvets. Silk duvets are the most expensive.”

“Is that an electric rice cooker? They even bought one of those. Cooking will be so much easier from now on.”

“That wine is Maotai.”

“I have no idea what’s in those stacks of boxes and crates.”

“Me neither, I can’t tell, but with packaging that nice, it’s bound to be something good.”

…

Once everything was unloaded from the two vehicles, Mother Jiang handed a set of keys to Chenglei. “A-Lei, come with me to move these cars somewhere else so the truck can pull in. We need to unload the refrigerator and the washing machine.”

Chenglei had originally planned to buy a refrigerator himself, but Father Jiang had insisted long ago that he would be the one to provide the refrigerator and washing machine when they moved into the new house. He had already placed the order and paid; he had even shown the couple the receipt to make sure they believed him.

Jiang Xia hadn’t really wanted a washing machine. She felt that if it wasn’t a fully automatic one, it wasn’t worth buying, as semi-automatic machines were often more of a hassle than hand-washing.

However, since it was already bought and given with a heart full of love from her elders, the couple naturally wouldn’t dampen their spirits and acted very pleased.

“Alright,” Chenglei took the keys and went to park the Jeep in the nearby open lot.

Mother Jiang drove the other one and followed him.

Watching Mother Jiang behind the wheel, Wen Rou’s eyes brimmed with envy. It turned out a female comrade could drive too!

And a woman driving looked so elegant!

After the two cars were moved, the delivery truck pulled in.

When the villagers saw the washing machine and refrigerator being carried down, their jaws dropped!

They bought a refrigerator and a washing machine!

“Chenglei really hit the jackpot by marrying Jiang Xia! If my son could bring home a wife like that, I’d treat her like a princess!”

“Stop dreaming! Does your son have Chenglei’s talent? When Jiang Xia got engaged to A-Lei, he was a regimental commander. Would she have married him otherwise?”

“Jiang Xia is the unlucky one! Her family is so well-off and she’s so beautiful; she clearly could have married much better! She flew down from a high branch into a muddy field—a phoenix turned into a common pheasant. No wonder she was making such a fuss about a divorce at first.”

“Chenglei isn’t bad himself. If he didn’t have talent and money, he wouldn’t be able to keep her now. And why aren’t you mentioning how she jinxed her husband? How long were they engaged before Chenglei went deaf and lost his rank as regimental commander?”

“I don’t think she’s a jinx. If anything, I think Jiang Xia brings prosperity to her husband. Ever since Chenglei married her, earning money has been as easy as scooping water from the ocean.”

“If Chenglei weren’t making money, would Jiang Xia stay? She only stopped mentioning divorce because she saw him making a thousand or more every time he went out to sea.”

“You’re just sour because you can’t have what they have. What a load of nonsense! Jiang Xia is capable in her own right. The money she made at the Trade Fair as a translator is enough to last her a lifetime. She probably makes more than Chenglei!”

“Then why didn’t she divorce him then?”

“You’re hilarious! What couple doesn’t have a fight so bad they think about divorce? She’s already married, and no one forced her into it, so why must she divorce? In my opinion, the reason she made such a fuss back then wasn’t because she wanted a divorce—she just wanted a family division!”

“That sounds about right. She hasn’t made a peep since the family division. Tsk tsk, city folk really are something else!”

“Jiang Xia is definitely something! Tian Caihua used to talk bad about her everywhere, but look at her now, praising Jiang Xia every single day. With that mouth of hers, when have you ever heard her praise anyone else…”

…

Such were the village women who had nothing better to do than gossip behind people’s backs. Give them a single scene, and they could spin a whole epic.

After their chatter, they followed the crowd into the Zhou house to continue watching the excitement.

Inside, Jiang Xia was leading Mother Jiang, Jiang Dong, and Zhang Fuyan on a tour of the house.

When Zhang Fuyan saw that the rooms on the second floor had a view of the ocean, she couldn’t help but exclaim, “The scenery from your house is too beautiful! How can it be this pretty? Even I want to move in!”

It hadn’t rained for nearly two months, so the seawater was a refreshing, deep blue.

Looking out from the bedroom window, the sunlight, the beach, the blue sky, the white clouds, the ocean, and the sea gulls all blended together into a single, pristine picture—clear and breathtaking.

Even Mother Jiang was moved. “Waking up to a view like this every day would surely put anyone in a good mood.”

Jiang Xia smiled. “Mom, Xiao Yan, if you like it, stay the night. You can see the sunrise over the ocean tomorrow. I can even take you out to sea this evening to watch the sunset.”

Mother Jiang laughed. “I have to work tomorrow!”

Zhang Fuyan wanted to, but she said regretfully, “My flight is tonight. I have to get back to school tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Jiang Dong said, “Sis, we’ll come back during the holidays.”

Jiang Xia smiled and said, “Alright. But the sea only stays this blue when the weather has been good for a while. If it rains, the water gets murky and isn’t nearly as nice.”

“I hope the weather is good during winter break, then.”

After finishing the tour, they were chatting on the roof when Chenglei saw more guests arriving. He said, “Xiaxia, Grandpa, Grandma, and the uncles are here. I’ll go down to meet them. You stay here and talk with Mom.”

He then addressed Mother Jiang, “Mom, have a chat with Xiaxia. I’ll be down for a bit.”

Mother Jiang quickly said, “Xiaxia, you go too! We can enjoy the view on our own. There are a lot of guests today, and I’m not an outsider. You two should go take care of the other relatives and friends; I’ll look after things on our end.”

Zhang Fuyan and Jiang Dong also urged her to go greet the guests.

Since Jiang Xia hadn’t met Mother Zhou’s side of the family yet, she said, “Mom, Fuyan, Xiao Dong, why don’t you go sit in the living room on the second floor or in my room? I’ll go greet A-Lei’s grandparents.”

“Go ahead! It’s only right!”

So, the couple went downstairs together to welcome Mother Zhou’s side of the family.

Jiang Xia was walking down the stairs a bit too quickly, so Chenglei took her hand. “Slow down, they haven’t arrived yet.”

Jiang Xia slowed her pace.

Because Chenglei had spotted them from a distance while on the roof, the two of them made it downstairs, informed Mother Zhou, and the whole family went out together to meet them.

Mother Zhou’s family lived in the neighboring city. They had to take the earliest bus and had traveled for over five hours to get there.

Mother Zhou and Father Zhou went forward with smiles. “Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Auntie.”

The three brothers and their wives also stepped forward. “Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Auntie.”

Grandpa and Grandma looked up at the tall multi-story building and beamed. “Is this the new house A-Lei built? Good, good!”

Mother Zhou’s parents were both still alive and in their eighties, but their health was still quite robust.

The two elders doted most on Chenglei, the grandson who had left home at a young age. Therefore, despite their age, they had come for Chenglei’s wedding and insisted on coming today as well. No one in the family could talk them out of it.

Chapter 406: Had a Change of Heart?

Jiang Xia smiled as she took Grandma’s arm, while Chenglei supported Grandpa, and together they led the way.

Chenglei’s Uncle, Second Uncle, cousins, their spouses, and their children followed in a grand procession into the house.

Auntie and Second Auntie followed close behind. Seeing Jiang Xia affectionately holding their mother-in-law’s arm, the two women exchanged a knowing glance.

When the couple first married, Jiang Xia didn’t have a single kind word or a pleasant expression for any of their family members.

Back then, the sisters-in-law had worried the bride might feel lonely and went to the bridal chamber to keep her company. However, she had been cold and dismissive, wearing a long face as if everyone there owed her millions.

Because of that, everyone in the family knew Chenglei had married a pampered daughter from the city who looked down on her poor relatives.

They hadn’t expected her to be so warm and welcoming this time.

The elder cousin, Li Qiuyue, and the second cousin, Li Qiuying, walked at the very back. The younger sister leaned into the older one’s side, watching Jiang Xia ahead of them. She whispered, “Has our little cousin-in-law had a change of heart? Didn’t she used to walk around with her nose in the air?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! She had just married into the family back then. She was probably just shy and nervous around strangers,” the elder sister replied softly.

The second cousin didn’t say anything more. Her elder sister loved to lecture; one more word and she’d be in for a sermon, so she didn’t bother arguing.

Tan Yudai, the wife of Chenglei’s eldest cousin, overheard them. She turned back and whispered, “That’s only because A-Lei is rich now and can hold his head high. She wouldn’t dare look down on us anymore. Just look at this big house A-Lei built—look how grand it is!”

The three of them looked over the three-story Western-style house and the vibrant, flower-filled courtyard. Even though many people were currently working in the yard—with basins of meat, vegetables, and dishes waiting to be washed, and the ground scattered with vegetable leaves, chicken feathers, and goose feathers—one could still see how beautiful and unique the courtyard would be when it was clean.

In short, it was obvious at a glance that this house had cost a fortune to build.

Once inside, Tan Yudai saw the interior furnishings and became even more convinced that Jiang Xia’s change in attitude was solely because Chenglei was now wealthy.

Jiang Xia led Grandma into the house and helped her sit on the sofa, then went to find more chairs to make sure everyone had a seat.

There were so many people that the sofa couldn’t possibly hold them all.

While Jiang Xia moved chairs, Tian Caihua and Li Xiuxian were also busy helping.

Zhou Chengsen and Zhou Chengxin were occupied with serving tea to everyone.

After Chenglei helped Grandpa sit down, he took the chairs from Jiang Xia’s hands. “Let me do it. You should sit for a bit.”

Waves of guests had been arriving all day. Jiang Xia had to receive gifts, give return gifts, and welcome guests; she had hardly sat down all morning.

“It’s fine.” Chenglei’s maternal family had traveled hours by bus to support them; they had to be looked after properly.

The sofa area was packed, so some people went to sit in the dining room. Jiang Xia went over there to pour tea for them.

She greeted everyone, handing out cups of tea one by one. Finally, she held a cup out with both hands to Tan Yudai. “Big Cousin-in-law, have some tea.”

Tan Yudai didn’t reach out to take it.

“Just put it down!” She glanced at Jiang Xia and gave a somewhat sarcastic chuckle. “I’m surprised you even know I’m your big cousin-in-law. I thought you didn’t recognize me!”

“I only called you that because A-Lei did. There’s nothing more to it,” Jiang Xia replied calmly.

Tan Yudai: “…”

What was that supposed to mean?

Before she could respond, Jiang Xia moved on and handed the tea to Li Qiuyue next to her. “Big Cousin, have some tea.”

Tan Yudai: “…”

Li Qiuyue smiled and took it with both hands. “Thank you. You must be exhausted after being busy all day. Quick, sit down and rest. Don’t worry about the tea anymore, or A-Lei will start worrying about you.”

Jiang Xia smiled. “I’m not tired. Even if I were, I’d be happy because you all traveled such a long way to join us.”

Seeing her sister-in-law accept the tea made Tan Yudai even more displeased.

This was a slap to her face!

When Chenglei got married, they had come for the wedding, and Jiang Xia hadn’t given them a shred of respect. Had she forgotten that?

Tan Yudai had just wanted to vent a little bit of her frustration!

She hadn’t expected Jiang Xia to still be so blunt, refusing to even hand her the tea properly!

With that “young lady” temper, was she not afraid that Chenglei would eventually grow tired of her?

Jiang Xia then poured a cup for Li Qiuying. “Second Cousin, have some tea.”

Tan Yudai shot her a look.

Li Qiuying pretended not to see it and hurried to take the cup with both hands. “Thank you, Xiao Xia.”

Tan Yudai: “…”

Chenglei had been keeping an eye on Jiang Xia the whole time. After finishing with the chairs, he walked over and took the teapot from her hands. “I’ll do it.”

Tan Yudai seized the opportunity. “A-Lei, I haven’t got a cup yet! I don’t know if I said something wrong and offended your wife just now, but she stopped giving me tea.”

Chenglei focused on pouring the tea, pretending not to hear her. Once he finished with the remaining younger relatives and children, he said, “Anyone who doesn’t have tea yet, come and get a cup. Please forgive the poor hospitality.”

After speaking, he took Jiang Xia’s hand and led her back to his grandparents.

Tan Yudai, who had been completely ignored: “…”

Next time they had a celebration, they shouldn’t expect her to attend.

Relatives like this weren’t worth keeping in touch with!

Auntie and Second Auntie did a loop of the first floor, inspecting all the rooms. They came out smiling. “A-Lei, this house you built is truly beautiful. The layout is excellent! It’s even better than the one Ah Xin is living in.”

Second Auntie added, “When your second cousin builds a house in the future, he should use this layout as a reference. It’s so comfortable! Great natural light and ventilation. The rooms are big and bright, not like our old house with those tiny windows where every room is pitch black! You can’t see a thing without turning on the lights. And there’s even a bathroom inside the bedroom—it makes it so convenient to get up in the middle of the night. What a great idea!”

Grandpa remarked, “Houses in the old days were all built that way. This is a new era with new ways of building, even putting the toilets inside the house.”

Mother Zhou smiled and said, “Xiao Xia was the one who suggested this layout. She said it provides better privacy, and having a bathroom in the master bedroom means you don’t have to run outside at night, especially in the dead of winter.”

“What bathroom? There’s a bathroom in the bedroom? I have to see this.” Grandma stood up. “A-Lei, Xiao Xia, come, show me your room.”

Chenglei and Jiang Xia stood up to support her.

The others had been wanting to look around anyway, so they all stood up to explore.

Just then, someone shouted, “The feast is starting! We can start the feast now!”

Chenglei said, “Grandpa, Grandma, let’s eat first. You can look around slowly after lunch.”

Zhou Chengsen said to Chenglei, “Big Brother and I will look after Grandpa and the others. You go arrange for Xiao Xia’s family to eat!”

“Alright.” Chenglei nodded. He went up to the second floor to ask Mother Jiang and the others if they wanted to eat now.

Mother Jiang replied, “We’ll wait for Xiaxia’s father to arrive and eat together.”

Chenglei said, “Then I’ll bring some pastries up for you to tide you over.”

“No need, we’re not hungry. Go on and get busy!”

Chenglei turned to his wife. “Xiaxia, don’t go back downstairs. Stay here with Mom for a bit and chat.”

“Okay.” Jiang Xia did want to sit for a moment. She had been busy since she woke up and had hardly had a chance to rest.

At that moment, someone downstairs shouted again, “A-Lei, more guests have arrived!”

Chenglei went to the balcony to look. “It’s Great-Uncle and his family.”

Great-Uncle was a relative from Chenglei’s late grandmother’s side.

As the saying goes, “Like thunder in the sky, so is the maternal uncle on earth.”

His seniority was very high.

Jiang Xia had no choice but to stand up again and go with Chenglei to welcome them.

After greeting Great-Uncle, Great-Aunt, and their children and getting them settled inside, Jiang Xia was just about to drink some water when she heard, “A-Lei, more people! And they came in a Jeep again!”

“There’s a small truck too!”

Chapter 407: Why Are You Here, Sir?

This time, it was Chenglei’s comrades-in-arms who arrived.

Zhang Rui and Zhang Rong, along with Jiang Yang, Yang Bin, and a few others.

Chenglei hadn’t planned on a major celebration, only inviting relatives and fellow villagers, so he hadn’t expected them all to show up.

The couple smiled as they welcomed everyone inside.

Zhang Rong punched Chenglei playfully on the shoulder. “Moving into a new house and you didn’t even tell your Second Brother! Are you even treating me like a brother?”

Zhang Rui also wanted to give the regimental commander a punch, but he didn’t dare.

Jiang Xia laughed. “Today is New Year’s Day, and we were afraid business at the mall would be too good, so we didn’t want to keep Second Brother from making money. We were actually planning to host a dinner for everyone in the city in a while. But this is perfect; now we can receive gifts twice. We’re coming out ahead, right?”

Jiang Xia turned and smiled at Chenglei as she said the last part.

Chenglei rested his hand on the small of her back to give her some support and looked at the men. “I bought a house in the city too. Next time, make sure you bring gifts of this caliber again.”

Chenglei pointed to the vinyl record player and the refrigerator they were carrying.

The vinyl player was a gift from Zhang Rong, while the refrigerator was a joint gift from Jiang Yang and the others.

“It’s over! We’re at a total loss! I don’t know anything, I’ve walked into the wrong house today, and I’m leaving right now! Ah Rui, let’s get out of here!” Zhang Rong and Zhang Rui played along, lifting the record player and pretending to turn around and leave, making everyone burst into laughter.

“Jiang Yang, you brat, you set us up! You’re buying the next refrigerator all by yourself!”

…

The group chatted and laughed as they entered the house.

After they were settled, Father Jiang arrived.

He had gotten off the car at the village entrance, letting the driver head home for the day, while he and the Old Chief walked into the village together.

Since it was time for the banquet, the two had already entered the courtyard before someone finally recognized Father Jiang and shouted, “A-Lei, your father-in-law is here! Xiaxia, your dad is here!”

The couple and the Zhou family rushed out.

“Dad.”

“Relative-in-law!”

Father Jiang smiled and shook hands with Father Zhou. “I’m sorry for being so late.”

Father Zhou chuckled. “Not late at all. You’ve arrived just in time; the banquet is about to start.”

“Then I’m in luck!” Father Jiang smiled and looked at Chenglei. “Look who I brought with me. Don’t you recognize him?”

The moment Chenglei saw the elderly man, he instinctively straightened his back. He whispered, “Why are you here, sir?”

Jiang Xia didn’t recognize the man and was trying to guess how to address him.

The old man glared at him. “I can’t come? I’m here to see if you’ve tarnished my reputation! This was my first time acting as a matchmaker.”

Jiang Xia realized who he was then, but she still didn’t know the proper form of address.

Chenglei instinctively glanced at Jiang Xia and pulled her closer. “Xiaxia and I both want to thank you for acting as our matchmaker back then.”

He was especially grateful.

He felt he had been quite lucky in his life, but his greatest stroke of luck was being able to marry Jiang Xia.

Father Jiang couldn’t help but remind his dazed daughter, “Are you so happy to see the Elder that you’ve forgotten your manners? Hurry up and call him Grandpa!”

Jiang Xia smiled. “I was just afraid the Elder would come to settle accounts with me. Thank you, Grandpa, for arranging the match between A-Lei and me. I was in the wrong before and caused you a lot of worry!”

Father Jiang and Elder Zhang shared a bond forged in life-and-death situations.

Many years ago, Father Jiang had saved Elder Zhang’s life, which was why Elder Zhang had agreed when Father Jiang asked him to be a matchmaker.

Otherwise, Elder Zhang never concerned himself with such matters.

Now, seeing that the gaze Chenglei turned on Jiang Xia was so tender it could practically melt, and that the couple clearly had a strong relationship, Elder Zhang felt somewhat relieved.

That specific mission shouldn’t have been Chenglei’s to begin with. Chenglei had volunteered for it, and the Elder felt he never should have agreed to dispatch him. He had been regretting it ever since.

He was truly both regretful and angry.

A moment of soft-heartedness on his part had cut short this brat’s bright future!

Father Jiang smiled and said, “Didn’t I tell you they were doing very well? And yet you didn’t believe me!”

“This kid has a permanent poker face, looking every day like someone owes him a fortune. I was just afraid he’d bully Xiaxia and scare his wife away!”

Jiang Xia took the opportunity to joke, “I was a little scared at the beginning, actually…”

Chenglei gave her a light squeeze.

Elder Zhang felt he had found a kindred spirit and said triumphantly, “See, I was right! With that ice-cold face of yours, you’d make a child cry just by looking at them. In the future, when you have children, if you keep acting so stiff, the kids probably won’t even let you hold them. It’s a good thing I played matchmaker for you, otherwise, how could you have ever found a wife?”

Chenglei looked helpless. “The food is already on the table and the weather is cold. Let’s go in and eat first! We can talk more once we’re full.”

Father Zhou had already deduced Elder Zhang’s identity and hurriedly said, “Yes, yes! Relative-in-law, Elder, please, let’s go eat.”

As Elder Zhang walked in, he smiled at Father Zhou and said, “Comrade, you’ve raised a fine son!”

Father Zhou led them toward the main table, laughing. “It doesn’t matter if the son is good or not, as long as the daughter-in-law is good! I have to thank you, Elder, for finding such a wonderful wife for A-Lei. Xiaxia is truly great. This child is exceptionally good…”

Chenglei spoke briefly with Jiang Xia and then went upstairs to call Mother Jiang and the others down for dinner.

Father Zhou brought the guests to the main table.

When the group at Zhang Rui’s table saw who was coming, they all hurriedly dropped their chopsticks and stood up, heels clicked together, almost saluting!

“Sit down and eat. What are you standing up for?” Elder Zhang barked at them.

Everyone immediately sat back down, picked up their bowls and chopsticks, and began shoveling food into their mouths with perfectly synchronized movements.

Jiang Xia: “…”

The people at the other tables: “…”

Father Zhou invited Father Jiang and Elder Zhang to sit with a smile. “Elder, Relative-in-law, let’s eat!”

He hadn’t even finished explaining how wonderful Wealth-bringer was yet.

The moving banquet consisted of thirty tables and lasted until evening.

The main table and the adjacent table where Zhang Rui and his group sat were the ones that lingered the longest.

Throughout the meal, Father Zhou spent his time praising how wonderful Jiang Xia was, thanking Father Jiang for raising such a fine daughter and marrying her to Chenglei, and thanking Elder Zhang for matching Chenglei with such a great girl.

Since there was no alcohol at this table, Father Zhou wasn’t drunk, but everyone felt like he was!

Jiang Xia was starting to feel quite embarrassed.

The meal lasted for over two hours.

If Jiang Dong and Zhang Fuyan hadn’t needed to catch a flight, and if Elder Zhang hadn’t had a flight of his own, the meal likely would have lasted even longer.

After seeing off all the relatives and guests, Chenglei arranged for his maternal relatives to stay the night.

His maternal grandparents, both uncles and their wives, Big Cousin and her husband, and Second Brother and his wife were all staying in the guest rooms of the new house.

Big Cousin-in-law’s family and the second female cousin were assigned to the old house by Chenglei. To avoid making them stay there alone, Zhou Chengsen and Second Sister-in-law stayed in their original rooms in the old house, leaving only Zhou Ying and Zhou Zhou to sleep in the new house.

He did not assign anyone to stay in the room he and Jiang Xia shared in the old house.

That place held too many beautiful memories for them.

That bed was also their wedding bed.

Chenglei had a very strong sense of personal space; he didn’t like others staying in the room where he and Jiang Xia slept, nor did he like others sleeping in their bed.

If that bed hadn’t been secured with so many nails that it was difficult to disassemble, he would have moved it to the second floor of the new house.

Even on the second floor of the new house, Chenglei hadn’t arranged for anyone to stay, so he hadn’t even set up beds in the guest rooms there.

Since the maternal family was large and had many children, and the old house couldn’t accommodate them all, Tian Caihua took several of the children back to her house to stay.

Mother Zhou asked Chenglei, “Why did you send Big Cousin-in-law’s family to the old house but let the others stay in the new house? Big Cousin-in-law’s face was as black as thunder!”

Father Zhou added, “That arrangement wasn’t quite right. You should have arranged it according to seniority.”

Chenglei replied, “Big Cousin-in-law didn’t accept the tea Xiaxia poured for her.”

Father Zhou: “Oh, then the arrangement was fine. It’s a pity we couldn’t fit a bed for her in the bathroom.”

Mother Zhou: “…”

Chapter 408: A Heavy Gift

At the old house.

The eldest cousin, Li Guilin, asked his wife, “Did you do something? Why would Chenglei arrange for us to stay here?”

In all things, there was an established order of seniority.

With a darkened face, Tan Yudai snapped, “What could I have done? Forget about us being arranged to stay here—they didn’t even give me a single cup of tea! This is clearly a lack of respect! It’s not like it’s the first time you’ve felt it, right? Last time, when Chenglei got married, your mother, your sister, and I went to greet Jiang Xia. Did she even acknowledge us? Didn’t you see with your own eyes how she completely ignored us?”

Li Guilin hesitated. “…But Chenglei isn’t that kind of person. Normally, he wouldn’t do something like this. Are you sure you didn’t do something?”

Tan Yudai retorted, “What could I have done? I just asked Jiang Xia if she remembered me. If you don’t believe me, ask your daughter—she heard it too! Jiang Xia must have arranged for us to stay here, and Chenglei just went along with it. They’re husband and wife; haven’t you heard of the power of pillow talk? Jiang Xia probably found out that I once intended to introduce my younger sister to Chenglei.”

Li Guilin: “…”

Was that it?

An introduction had been attempted, but hadn’t Chenglei rejected it back then?

Was such an old story really worth holding a grudge over?

Women were truly petty! They would dwell on the most trivial, “sesame seed and mung bean” size matters for a lifetime!

“Whatever, don’t fuss with her. Go to sleep early; we have to get up early tomorrow to catch the bus back.”

With that, he turned over, pulled up the covers, and went to sleep.

Tan Yudai, however, couldn’t fall asleep.

Her younger sister still carried a torch for Chenglei. When the family tried to set her up with others, she looked down on all of them. At twenty-four, she still refused to marry.

It was truly frustrating!

At the new house, Mother Zhou was in her room organizing the return gifts for her family.

Father Zhou came out after his shower and saw the floor covered with woven sacks. He asked, “One bag per household?”

Now that the children were grown, Mother Zhou’s siblings had long ago undergone family division.

“Yes,” Mother Zhou replied.

“Which one is for Guilin’s wife?”

Mother Zhou pointed to the sack with the most seaweed.

Father Zhou went over and rummaged through it, finding that Mother Zhou had packed a large bag of seaweed and a package of the cheapest fried fish.

Father Zhou was satisfied, but the weight was too light; it was too obvious.

He said to Mother Zhou, “How can you give such a light gift?”

After saying that, Father Zhou walked out.

Mother Zhou: “…”

Soon, Father Zhou returned carrying two bags of things. He stuffed them into the sack and then lifted it to gauge the weight.

Hmm, not bad. It’s finally a ‘heavy gift’!

Mother Zhou asked, “What did you put in there?”

Why did she think one of the bags felt like sand?

“Sea snails shells and sand.”

Mother Zhou was speechless. “Why would you put sand in there? This… this is too much! What will my mother think?”

Father Zhou said, “Don’t worry. Mom mentioned before that she wanted to take some sand back to sprout bean sprouts. I’m just having Guilin’s wife help carry it back for her.”

Mother Zhou: “…”

After Chenglei finished arranging things for his relatives, he returned to the room. Jiang Xia was still sitting at the dressing table, counting the gift money received today and balancing the accounts.

She carefully recorded how much gift money each family had contributed and what items they had sent. These were all social obligations that would need to be reciprocated in the future.

“Go take a shower first. Stop worrying about that; aren’t you tired?” Chenglei went to the wardrobe to get some clothes.

“In a second. I’m afraid I’ll forget after I sleep, so I’m recording it now.” Jiang Xia put the notebook and money away and looked at him. “When did you guys order the cars?”

Jiang Xia already knew from Jiang Dong that those two Jeeps were ordered by Chenglei. He had paid a 20,000 yuan deposit for two, and Jiang Dong had paid the remaining balance of over 40,000 yuan.

“After you took the motorcycle to town.” He really didn’t feel comfortable with her riding the motorcycle, so he thought about buying a car. Then, he happened to receive a call from Jiang Dong saying he wanted to buy one too.

So, he ordered two.

Chenglei took their pajamas into the bathroom and then walked back out.

Jiang Xia closed the drawer and stood up. “Where did that 20,000 yuan come from? Did you take it from Second Brother Zhang?”

Chenglei wrapped his arms around her waist, letting her lean against him, and leaned down to kiss her. “No. During the Canton Fair, I closed deals with two foreign businessmen, but they didn’t pay right away. They only paid after the fair ended and even placed follow-up orders for dozens more units. I used the commission from that to place the deposit.”

The factory had originally said they wouldn’t be able to deliver the cars until after the New Year, around April at the earliest. That was right around the summer solstice.

He had planned to give it to Jiang Xia as a birthday gift.

He hadn’t expected Zhang Fuyan to help by getting the factory to divert two extra cars from the capital, allowing them to get the vehicles early.

So it was the final payment from the Canton Fair; no wonder she hadn’t known.

Jiang Xia glared at him. “You guys bought cars without even consulting me? You didn’t ask which model I liked, or let me test drive them and pick? What if I’m not used to driving it?”

Chenglei kissed her again. “It wouldn’t be a surprise if we consulted you. I know you like Jeeps; Xiao Dong said you liked them, too. If you’re not used to it, I’ll teach you.”

When she had ridden in Zhang Rong’s Jeep before, she had clearly liked it.

Furthermore, while a Jeep looked taller and more aggressive than a sedan, it offered a better field of vision while driving, making it easier to handle in the village.

Jiang Xia added, “I do like Jeeps, but I also like the kind of sedan my dad has. Should we buy one of those too?”

Chenglei kissed her and picked her up in his arms. “We’ll buy a sedan next time. Now, it’s time to bathe and sleep. I’ll take you for a spin tomorrow.”

He carried her directly into the bathroom.

Having a bathroom and a toilet attached to the room was truly convenient.

He took a hot bath with her and coaxed her to sleep. Only after the bed was warm and cozy did he go back for a quick cold shower.

He had never felt like the days were so long before. There were still over six months before the babies would be born; this period was direct torture.

The next morning, after breakfast, Grandma and Grandpa’s family prepared to head back early.

Mother Zhou had prepared return gifts for each household. Besides what was required by custom, she also gave various dried seafood items like fried fish, dried shrimp, dried oysters, and savory small dried fish as return gifts for them to take back, each packed in a large woven sack.

All the relatives received fried fish, but because Grandma’s side lived so far away, they were given much more.

Jiang Xia had also prepared a 500 yuan red envelope for each of her grandparents, along with a set of clothes and some health supplements. She tucked the red envelopes directly into the pockets of the clothes to prevent the two elders from refusing the gift.

Additionally, she prepared a large snack gift bag for each of the children.

The items were all packed in woven sacks, and from the outside, they all looked like the same large bags.

However, Tan Yudai couldn’t help but feel that her family’s bag was different from the others.

Father Zhou smiled and said to Mother Zhou’s mother, “Mom, didn’t you say you wanted to take a bag of sand back to grow bean sprouts? I packed a bag for you to take.”

Grandma smiled. “Good.”

Then Father Zhou looked at the several woven sacks and said, “I forgot which bag I put it in. Whoever sees it when you get home, just give it to Mom!”

Mother Zhou tried to get her parents to stay a while longer. “Uncle, Aunt, stay here for a while. I’ll send you home after the New Year.”

In their region, people did not address their parents as “Father” or “Mother” but used the dialect terms for “Uncle” and “Aunt.”

The two elders both waved their hands. “We won’t stay. It’s almost the New Year; we have to go back.”

Father Zhou, who didn’t speak their dialect, said, “Grandpa, Grandma, just stay here for a while with peace of mind. The weather is cold now, and there’s no work to do back home anyway.”

Jiang Xia also smiled. “Grandpa, Grandma, stay for a few more days. Once you get bored or whenever you feel like going back, Chenglei can drive you home. It’s very convenient.”

Mother Zhou nodded. “Exactly!”

Because they lived far away, Mother Zhou only made it home once or twice a year, and she wanted the chance to show some filial piety.

“We won’t stay. There’s work to do at home. When Xiao Xia gives birth, we’ll come back to see the babies.”

The two elders had already heard from Mother Zhou that Jiang Xia was pregnant with triplets, and they had been so happy they couldn’t sleep half the night.

With all their children and grandchildren married and settled with careers, and four generations living under one roof, they had no more unfulfilled wishes; they were completely content.

No matter how much they were urged, the two elders refused to stay. Chenglei and Big Brother Zhou Chengxin drove the family to the city to catch their bus.

Chapter 409: On Purpose

There were too many people for a single tractor to carry.

Chenglei drove the Jeep, while Big Brother Zhou Chengxin drove the tractor to see them off.

Jiang Xia sat in the front passenger seat. In the back row sat Grandpa, Grandma, Big Cousin, and her three-year-old son.

The very back row was occupied by Uncle and Auntie, as well as Second Uncle and Second Auntie, each of them holding a grandson.

This Jeep had a soft-top design and was intended for dual use as a passenger and cargo vehicle. Since the family already had a tractor, Chenglei hadn’t bought the specific passenger-cargo hybrid model, so this one had two full rows of back seats.

Chenglei was thinking ahead; once their three children were born, a family of seven would need enough seats to go out together.

In terms of pure comfort, Father Jiang’s sedan was definitely a smoother ride. However, for the rugged village roads, a vehicle with a high chassis like a Jeep was much easier to drive, especially on rainy days.

Grandma patted the car seat and smiled. “I never thought I’d get to sit in such a nice car in this lifetime. My life feels complete now!”

Jiang Xia laughed. “How can it be complete? you haven’t even been on a plane yet. Why don’t you stay, Grandma? I’ll take you to fly in an airplane.”

Grandma smiled. “Next time. Next time I’ll go with you.”

“It’s a promise, then!…”

Amidst the chatting and laughter, the Jeep drove smoothly and slowly to the city train station. The tractor hadn’t arrived yet.

Chenglei pulled over to the side of the road and asked Jiang Xia to wait in the car with them. He went inside to collect the tickets; he had called the Station Master yesterday to ask him to set some aside.

By the time Chenglei returned with the tickets, the tractor had just arrived.

He first helped Jiang Xia out of the car, and then together they helped Grandpa and Grandma down. Afterward, he helped everyone carry their luggage into the train station.

Inside the waiting room, Chenglei distributed the tickets.

He handed the last one to Tan Yudai. “I’m sorry, Tan Yudai. With the end of the year approaching, train tickets are very tight. The seated tickets were sold out, and there weren’t enough to go around, so I had to buy you a standing ticket.”

Tan Yudai: “…”

He was definitely doing this on purpose.

Jiang Xia shot a glance at Chenglei. When it came to annoying someone without giving them a reason to complain, he was a master.

Grandpa didn’t think much of it. “It’s already nearing the end of the year; being able to get any ticket at all is great. We only managed to get five seated tickets when we came here.”

“That’s right! Being able to get this many seated tickets is already very good! Here’s the money for the tickets, A-Lei, take it.” Auntie pulled out some money and offered it to Chenglei.

Chenglei didn’t take it. “No need. It didn’t cost much. Don’t mention it, Auntie.”

Auntie stuffed the money directly into Jiang Xia’s hand. “Take it. We can’t let you pay for our tickets.”

Because Chenglei had booked the tickets in advance and knew the train schedule, they didn’t have to wait long before the train arrived. Chenglei supported Grandma and helped them carry their luggage onto the train.

The moment Grandma stepped onto the train, Jiang Xia slipped the ticket money into Grandma’s pocket. “Grandma, keep a close eye on your luggage. There are red envelopes tucked inside the clothes A-Lei and I bought for you.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she stepped back and left the train.

Grandma: “…”

The train soon pulled out of the station.

The three of them didn’t leave until the train had disappeared into the distance.

Zhou Chengxin drove the tractor straight back to the village. Chenglei took Jiang Xia to a recently built road where there was almost no traffic to teach her how to drive.

Jiang Xia knew how to drive and even had a license in her past life, but she hadn’t driven in a very long time. Chenglei was worried she would be rusty, so he wanted her to get some practice.

Jiang Xia was indeed unfamiliar with cars from this era. Moreover, she had learned on an automatic in the modern world, while this was a manual.

Chenglei gave her a detailed explanation and then questioned her once to make sure she remembered everything. After confirming she had it down, he adjusted the seat, moving it back a bit so Jiang Xia could sit in front of him to drive.

The two of them squeezed into the driver’s seat together.

He really didn’t feel safe letting Jiang Xia drive on her own, so this was the only way.

Jiang Xia was indeed a bit clumsy at first; the engine stalled once as soon as she started it.

But once she got the car moving, she drove quite well.

However, Chenglei remained tense the entire way.

After driving for quite a distance and seeing that Jiang Xia was comfortable, Chenglei said, “Alright, pull over. I’ll drive us back!”

Even in the middle of winter, he was so nervous that the back of his shirt was soaked with sweat.

Jiang Xia pulled over to the side. “I’ll drive back. You sit in the passenger seat.”

Chenglei wanted to refuse, but thinking that this stretch of road had no cars or pedestrians, he decided it wouldn’t hurt for Jiang Xia to practice a bit more. He said, “You can only drive on this highway. I’m taking over for the village roads.”

This highway had just been paved and was almost empty, but the village roads were full of potholes and uneven ground, not to mention the people and dogs that would dart out at any moment. Chenglei wasn’t willing to risk it.

“Okay.” Jiang Xia knew he was worried and agreed.

Once Chenglei was settled in the passenger seat, she started the car and made a U-turn to head back.

From the way she handled the turn, it was clear her driving skills were actually quite good.

Jiang Xia asked him, “Well? My driving isn’t bad, right?”

Chenglei nodded. “Mm.”

“Are you relieved now?”

“No.” Chenglei suspected he would never be able to truly feel at ease letting her drive alone in this lifetime. “In the future, if you need to go anywhere, just tell me. I’ll drive you. If I’m busy, I can hire a driver.”

Jiang Xia didn’t even want to talk to him anymore.

Luckily, she was an emotionally stable person. Otherwise, she might have stomped on the gas just to show him how good her driving really was.

By the time the two of them returned to the village, it was time for school to let out. There were many children in the fields and on the village roads.

Zhou Zhou, Zhou Jie, and the three brothers including Wenzu were walking through the fields. When they saw the Jeep, they immediately started running and shouting, “Uncle! Uncle! Uncle!”

Jiang Xia saw them and reminded Chenglei, “The kids are calling you. Stop the car and let them in.”

Chenglei brought the car to a halt.

Excitiedly, the children ran up onto the small road.

Jiang Xia smiled. “Hurry up and get in!”

“Yay!” The four children climbed into the car under the envious gazes of a crowd of students, and the Jeep sped away.

Inside the car, Wenzu said, “Uncle, Zhou Zhou said she wants to go for a joyride. Drive us around!”

Zhou Zhou: “…”

“I’ll take you to the city to play when I’m free during the holidays.” Chenglei understood their excitement, but there were too many children on the road right now with school letting out.

The children erupted in cheers of delight.

Everywhere the Jeep passed, the children walking home from school were green with envy. Some children recognized Wenzong and his brothers and even ran after the car.

Wenzong felt incredibly grand. “When I grow up, I’m going to buy a car like this too!”

Wenyao, Wenzu, and Zhou Jie all chimed in, “I’m going to buy one too!”

Jiang Xia took the opportunity to say, “Then you’ll have to study hard!”

Wenzu argued, “But you don’t need to study much to go out to sea and fish. I can make money fishing to buy one later, just like Uncle!”

Everyone said he looked like his Uncle.

“…”

Jiang Xia looked at Chenglei: Look at the fine example you’ve set.

Chenglei was amused but also a bit annoyed. “Don’t say you’re doing what I did. When did I ever stop studying? I have a university degree! And this car wasn’t bought with money from fishing.”

Wenzu countered, “But Uncle, you didn’t get into university by taking an exam. You fought your way in!”

Chenglei: “…”

Chapter 410: Setting Sail

As all the guests departed, the celebratory atmosphere drew to a close, and the mundane rhythms of daily life returned.

The weather remained fair, perfect for going out to sea and fishing.

At four thirty in the morning, when Zhou Chenglei was getting out of bed with the utmost care, Jiang Xia woke up.

She reached out to grab his hand, leaning her head toward him and gripping his wrist firmly.

Zhou Chenglei lay back down under the covers and pulled her into his arms. “Go back to sleep for a bit.”

Jiang Xia shook her head against his chest. “I want to go out to sea today too.”

As she spoke, she made a move to get up.

He held her tighter, tucking the quilt around them both. “Then sleep for one more hour. I’ll wait for you.”

“No need, let’s get up! I’m not sleepy. Dad and Big Brother are all waiting.”

She had gone to bed early the night before, around eight o’clock, so after nine hours of sleep, she was fully rested.

Jiang Xia sat up.

The two of them got out of bed together, freshened up in the bathroom, and went downstairs for breakfast.

Father Zhou was already eating. When he saw Jiang Xia come down, it was as if he saw a golden light shimmering around her; his eyes brightened instantly!

Father Zhou asked with a beaming smile, “Xiaxia is going out to sea today too?”

“Good morning, Dad,” Jiang Xia greeted him with a smile before saying, “Since today is the first time going out to sea in the New Year, I wanted to go along and see.”

Father Zhou chuckled. “Good, it’s good to go out together!”

On the first trip of the New Year, having the Wealth-bringer along meant they would be prosperous from the beginning of the year to the very end!

Father Zhou then called out to Mother Zhou, “Old woman, why don’t you come out to sea today as well!”

If the whole family went out together, the New Year would be even more prosperous!

Mother Zhou heard this and replied, “That works! Oysters are fat this season; it’s a good time for me to go and pry some oysters.”

Mother Zhou finished her breakfast quickly and then went to pack some food for lunch to bring onto the boat.

Since Jiang Xia was going, lunch had to be something warm. In the dead of winter, eating cold food could easily cause an upset stomach.

Just as the family finished breakfast, the first branch of the family coincidentally walked over.

Tian Caihua arrived carrying a box of pan-fried sweet potato pancakes. Seeing that Jiang Xia was actually up, she said in pleasant surprise, “Xiaxia, you’re going out to sea today?”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Yes!”

Tian Caihua handed the sweet potato pancakes to Jiang Xia. “I fried these for you to eat. Take them to the boat.”

Today was the first day her family’s new ship was going out to sea. It was wonderful that Jiang Xia was coming along!

Jiang Xia took them and thanked her.

Mother Zhou had also finished packing a basket of food, so Jiang Xia placed the sweet potato pancakes inside the basket.

Zhou Chenglei took the basket and hung it on the motorcycle. He would take Jiang Xia to the pier first on the motorcycle.

As Jiang Xia rode on the back of Zhou Chenglei’s motorcycle out of the courtyard gate, she saw Zhou Chengxin and three unfamiliar faces.

The three of them greeted Zhou Chenglei and addressed Jiang Xia as “Sister-in-law” or “Sister Jiang Xia.”

Jiang Xia smiled and said, “Morning.”

Zhou Chenglei acknowledged them as well, then said, “Big Brother, I’m going to the pier first to buy diesel.”

“Alright, we’ll walk over there now.”

Once Zhou Chenglei had driven the motorcycle a distance away, Jiang Xia asked him, “Who are those three? Are they from our village?”

“One is my Big Brother’s classmate, Zheng Guoqiang; they grew up together. The other two are Big Sister-in-law’s younger brothers.”

Zhou Chengxin’s new ship had been delivered on New Year’s Day, and he needed to hire people for the crew.

Zhou Chengxin had invited an old primary school classmate from a neighboring village. This classmate had just returned a few days ago from working in the neighboring city and had brought back some local specialties for him.

Zhou Chengxin learned that his classmate planned to stay in the city next year to find work rather than traveling far away. His wife wasn’t happy about him working elsewhere unless she could go with him.

However, bringing a wife and child along meant spending money on rent, and schooling for the child was a hassle. There wasn’t much profit in it, so he planned to stay in the city to find work.

When Zhou Chengxin found out, he invited him to go out to sea. Tian Caihua also invited her two youngest brothers, Tian Caisheng and Tian Caijin.

Tian Caihua hadn’t wanted to hire people from her maiden family because she was fed up with them.

But her eldest brother was constantly asking when the boat would be ready, saying he wanted to come and help her at sea.

She was truly tired of her eldest brother!

After discussing it, the couple decided to simply hire Tian Caihua’s two younger brothers. After all, several of her brothers didn’t have steady jobs and worked odd jobs everywhere; it wouldn’t look right if they didn’t hire even one of them.

Furthermore, Tian Caihua’s maiden family was quite poor. These two younger brothers weren’t married yet and lacked enough living space, so they had to be helped one way or another.

Otherwise, the villagers would say Zhou Chengxin lacked a sense of social obligation.

By hiring the two younger brothers, even if Tian Caixing found out, there was nothing he could do. As the eldest brother, he couldn’t very well steal jobs from his own younger brothers.

When Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei arrived at the pier, they were five minutes later than usual.

Since Father Zhou and the others had to walk, they would be even later.

Li’s father and Li Qingmin had already arrived and had been waiting for a full fifteen minutes.

Li Qingmin couldn’t help but complain to his father, “They talk about going to sea on time every day, but today they’re this late! It’s fine for them to be late, but God forbid we’re even a minute behind.”

Li’s father replied, “That’s enough. Why do you have so much to say? If you want to follow others out to sea, don’t you have to accommodate their schedule? Go and start the boat!”

With a dark expression, Li Qingmin went to start the engine. He had been waiting for ages, shivering in the biting north wind.

Father Zhou chuckled as he greeted Li’s father, “You’re early today, relative.”

Then he stepped onto his younger son’s boat.

Li’s father asked, “Aren’t you joining us on the same boat today?”

Father Zhou waved his hand. “Not today. We plan to go pry some oysters today. Are you coming?”

Hearing this, Li Qingmin spoke up immediately, “We’re not going for oysters. You go ahead; we’ll trawl in the vicinity.”

Prying oysters was not only likely to cut your hands, but oysters weren’t as valuable as fish.

Father Zhou nodded. “Alright. You’re familiar with the route now anyway. If you’re earlier than us in the mornings, no need to wait; just head out first!”

Li’s father said, “It’s better if we all go out together.”

Even though they had been following them for several days, the sea was vast. How could the way be so easy to recognize? If they went a bit further out, they still felt a bit panicky, mainly fearing they might unknowingly enter a prohibited fishing zone.

Father Zhou let them be.

Now, the Zhou family had a total of three boats going out.

Father Zhou asked his two sons how they wanted to arrange things.

In any case, wherever Jiang Xia sat, he would follow. He was going to be on the same boat as the Wealth-bringer.

Tian Caihua immediately grabbed Jiang Xia’s arm. “Xiaxia, since we’re all going out together anyway, come on my family’s new ship! Chenglei, if you’re worried about Xiaxia, you come and pilot our new ship! Let your Big Brother pilot your boat instead.”

Zhou Chengxin: “…”

Tian Caihua thought this was a brilliant idea and continued her arrangements. “How about this! Chenglei and Dad will pilot our new ship. Chengxin and Qiangzi, plus my sixth brother, will take Chenglei’s boat. The family’s old boat can be handled by Yongguo, Kangping, and my seventh brother. Mom and Xiaxia can both sit on my family’s new ship!”

Zhou Chengxin: “…”

What kind of madness was Tian Caihua up to now?

Zhou Chenglei refused directly. “No need. Let Big Brother pilot the new ship. I’ll take the family’s old boat. Xiaxia is coming with me; she’ll want to sleep on the lounge chair when she gets tired.”

Tian Caihua had forgotten that Zhou Chenglei had modified both his boat and the family’s old boat to accommodate fixed lounge chairs and fishing rods, making it easy for Jiang Xia to lie down and rest or fish. Their new ship didn’t have any of that.

She gave Zhou Chengxin a look of utter disdain. “Why didn’t you put a lounge chair on the boat!”

Zhou Chengxin: “…”

Chapter 411: The Great Ebbing Tide

In the end, each family took their own boat out to sea.

Zhou Chengxin took Zheng Qiang and Tian Caihua’s two younger brothers on the new ship.

Jiang Xia’s family took their own old boat.

Zhou Yongguo and Zhou Kangping took the boat Zhou Chenglei had bought later.

Four boats, maintaining a safe distance between them, set out into the dark ocean simultaneously.

As for the family’s old boat, the two brothers would now share it, each taking a turn for a day. Today it was Zhou Chenglei’s turn, and tomorrow would be Zhou Chengxin’s.

Father Zhou no longer divided the earnings from this boat with the two brothers. Nowadays, he frequently took the big ship out for a distant seas voyage.

He wasn’t short on money either; every time he went on a distant seas voyage, his youngest son would give him several thousand—never less than five thousand per trip.

Most importantly, he didn’t have much to spend money on. His youngest son covered everything: food, clothing, housing, and travel.

Once the boat had traveled far enough, Father Zhou asked, “Xiaxia, do you want to fish?”

A pregnant woman always had the best luck; if not now, then when?

In a few months, when “Wealth-bringer’s” belly got even bigger, she wouldn’t be able to go out to sea anymore.

Hearing this, Jiang Xia replied, “Sure!”

Zhou Chenglei glanced at Jiang Xia and intended to call his father over to take the wheel.

Father Zhou spoke first: “Don’t bother calling me. My hearing isn’t good today; I won’t hear you even if you shout!”

I want to fish with Wealth-bringer!

Zhou Chenglei: “…I wasn’t calling for you, I was calling for my wife! Xiaxia, it’s not light yet. Sleep a bit longer, then fish when you wake up.”

Father Zhou: “…”

That brat!

Jiang Xia smiled and said, “I got plenty of sleep last night, so I’m not tired. I’ll nap at noon.”

Father Zhou glared at his son: Hmph, my daughter-in-law is still the best!

Father Zhou handed the fishing rod to Jiang Xia. “Xiaxia, help me cast the line.”

Jiang Xia accepted it with a smile, helped Father Zhou cast his line, and then handed it back to her.

Mother Zhou smiled and said, “I’ll take the wheel. A-Lei, go set the net!”

“Alright.”

His mother was still the best!

Mother Zhou went over to steer the boat, while Zhou Chenglei went to cast the net.

Once the net was out, he came to sit by Jiang Xia’s side to accompany her while she fished.

As before, he acted as Jiang Xia’s assistant. He didn’t fish himself, simply watching over her.

When the weather was hot, Jiang Xia could reel in a fish every ten minutes or so. Now, nearly twenty minutes had passed without a single bite.

However, Father Zhou wasn’t in a hurry. Fishing in winter was always more difficult; to stay warm and guard against the cold, fish often retreated to deeper waters. Furthermore, as the temperature dropped and the seawater got colder, fish were less inclined to open their mouths to feed.

But with Wealth-bringer around, it was only a matter of time before they hit the jackpot!

Jiang Xia remarked, “I guess there aren’t many fish in this part of the sea today.” It had been so long without a single fish taking the bait.

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Father Zhou got a bite.

It was a long and thick sand eel. In the dim light, Jiang Xia thought it was a snake at first glance and was startled, instinctively leaning closer to Zhou Chenglei.

“It should be a sea eel, not a snake,” Zhou Chenglei said.

Father Zhou reeled it in and hauled the fish onto the boat, laughing heartily. “It’s a sand eel. Not bad! It should be nearly 1.5 kg, almost 2 kg!”

Father Zhou unhooked it and placed it in a bucket.

At that moment, Jiang Xia’s rod also had a bite.

She pulled it up with some effort, and with Zhou Chenglei assisting, it turned out to be a flatfish—and a sizeable one at that.

Father Zhou took a look and smiled. “Nice! This fish is valuable. It should sell for eight or ten dollars.”

He secured his own rod and brought a dip net over to help.

Together, father and son hauled the flatfish, which weighed over 5 kg, onto the boat.

Just as they got the flatfish on board, Father Zhou had another bite on his side.

This time, he reeled in a Black Sea Bream weighing about 1 kg.

Not bad either!

Black Sea Bream are relatively cold-resistant and are a common encounter during winter sea fishing.

It could sell for two or three dollars as well.

Another twenty minutes passed, and Jiang Xia had another bite.

It was another snake-shaped fish!

Jiang Xia: “…”

She handed the fishing rod directly to Zhou Chenglei.

Zhou Chenglei took it and reeled the fish in. “It’s a Red Cornetfish, not a snake.”

Jiang Xia recognized it now; she had encountered one before. The Red Cornetfish was also known as the flutemouth fish. Because its entire body was red, people in some places called it the Red Cornetfish.

This specimen was quite large, both thick and long, weighing about 1.5 kg.

Father Zhou glanced over and laughed. “Impressive. Even a rare fish like this was caught by Xiaxia. This fish is delicious as sashimi!”

Red Cornetfish were uncommon, and those who knew their fish loved using them for sashimi.

After Zhou Chenglei unhooked the fish, he asked Jiang Xia, “Still want to fish? Do you want to take a break?”

They had been fishing for nearly an hour, even though they had only caught two.

There was still an hour before they had to pull the net, and there was nothing else to do, so Jiang Xia nodded. “Let’s keep fishing!”

However, during the next hour, neither Father Zhou nor Jiang Xia caught a single fish.

Father Zhou put away his rod. “Forget it, let’s stop fishing and pull the net.”

The ‘get rich’ posture was wrong today. Today’s fortune definitely isn’t in fishing!

Jiang Xia stopped as well and stowed her rod.

The sky was already bright. In the distance, the boats from the first branch and the second branch were already pulling in their nets.

Zhou Chenglei and Father Zhou went to haul the net.

Bursting net, bursting net! Father Zhou chanted silently to himself as he pulled.

A bundle of fish broke the surface. Compared to previous “bursting nets,” this bundle only weighed around 100 to 150 kg, which wasn’t much compared to the usual 200 or 250 kg.

Zhou Chenglei emptied the fish onto the deck by himself.

At the sight of the large fish on the shuttering, Father Zhou broke into a smile. “It’s not about the quantity; quality fish are what matters!”

This haul was almost entirely Yellow Sea Bream, and they were all 500g or larger, not the smaller 300 to 350g ones.

The price of Yellow Sea Bream was slightly lower than that of Genuine Porgy, but it was still a valuable fish.

Moreover, besides the Yellow Sea Bream, there was an exceptionally large flatfish! It was nearly 1.5 meters long and weighed an estimated 25 to 30 kg.

A flatfish this large should sell for sixty or seventy dollars.

The remaining Yellow Sea Bream and miscellaneous fish and shrimp would probably sell for another hundred or so, by Father Zhou’s estimate.

This single net was worth 170 dollars.

In winter, for inshore fishing, such a harvest was excellent!

Including the fish they had caught by rod, they could just barely earn 200 dollars today.

Father Zhou said cheerfully, “A-Lei, you continue to trawl. I’ll sort the fish. Xiaxia, you take a break.”

Just then, Mother Zhou spoke up. “Where have I steered us? It feels like we’re almost at the shore?”

Mother Zhou knew how to steer a boat, but she was unfamiliar with the ocean, and without realizing it, she had lost her way.

Zhou Chenglei stood up to take a look. “It should be the bay to the north. Today is probably the day of a spring tide.”

Hearing this, Father Zhou looked into the distance. “It’s near the mangroves. The tide is likely receding heavily. A-Lei, you take the wheel. Don’t trawl a net yet; head further out before you drop it!”

Jiang Xia asked curiously, “A spring tide? Does a spring tide mean we can go beachcombing?”

Mother Zhou sounded excited. “Yes! When the tide goes out at this beach, there are plenty of good things to find! I just didn’t know when the spring tide would fall. Head over there; I’m going down to beachcomb.”

“I’m going too,” Jiang Xia added.

Zhou Chenglei: “It’s still early. Let’s wait for the water to recede a bit more and expose more of the beach before we head down. We’ll trawl one more net first. You should rest a bit; you can go down to beachcomb once you’ve refreshed yourself.”

This particular stretch of beach required a boat to reach for beachcombing, so they didn’t have to worry about the good stuff being picked clean by others if they were a little late.

Chapter 412: The Boat is Broken?

Zhou Chenglei took the boat out to trawl another net.

Jiang Xia, Father Zhou, and Mother Zhou worked together to sort the fish. After they finished, she lay down on the lounge chair to rest for a while.

The sun had been up for some time. It was now past nine in the morning, and the warmth of the sunlight, combined with the gentle sea breeze as she drifted on the azure ocean, was incredibly comfortable.

The tide was expected to be fully out around noon. If she wanted to go beachcombing, she wouldn’t be able to take a nap then, so Jiang Xia closed her eyes, intending to catch some sleep now.

She originally thought she wouldn’t be able to drop off, but she fell asleep in no time. Mother Zhou covered her with one of Zhou Chenglei’s jackets.

With Jiang Xia asleep, Zhou Chenglei let the net trawl for a bit longer to give her more time to rest.

When she woke up again, Jiang Xia smelled the delicious aroma of food. Mother Zhou was cooking seafood rice noodles.

Jiang Xia lifted her hand to check her watch; it was eleven-thirty. She had actually slept for two hours.

“Haven’t you pulled up the net yet?” Jiang Xia asked.

“Getting ready to.” Perhaps it was because the tide was receding in this area, but Zhou Chenglei felt like the engine’s drone sounded a bit different.

During the interval between low and high tide, the fish in the sea tended to be more active—perhaps they were afraid of being left behind on the beach by Mother Ocean.

Zhou Chenglei went to help Father Zhou haul in the net.

Mother Zhou had already finished cooking the soup noodles on the coal stove and served a bowl to Jiang Xia. “Xiao Xia, come eat something first. Don’t mind them.”

Jiang Xia went over, took the large bowl overflowing with seafood, and began to eat.

Nothing is fresher than soup noodles made with seafood just pulled from the water. When it comes to seafood, the focus is entirely on that single word: fresh. This was why seafood brought back by small fishing boats often tasted better than that from large vessels; small boats went out and returned on the same day, while large boats drifted at sea for many days.

Jiang Xia ate while watching them haul the net.

This haul was quite heavy. After trawling for over three hours, the two men were struggling to pull it up. A long, massive bulge of fish was vaguely visible in the water, likely weighing over 500 kilograms.

Seeing this, Mother Zhou quickly set down her bowl to help. Without a hoist, the two of them might not have been able to pull such a massive load onto the deck.

It took thirty minutes of exertion before the three of them finally managed to drag the fish onto the boat. Once the fish were poured out, it was certain they had stumbled upon a massive school again!

It was a school of blue round scad.

Father Zhou said with a chuckle, “What great luck! Even the people out at night with seine nets probably didn’t catch this many. This haul of blue round scad must be over 500 kilograms.”

Blue round scad liked to travel in schools and were attracted to light. Just like Pacific mackerel, they were the main target for local fishermen using lights and seine nets at night. Of course, they were also one of the primary targets for trawlers.

Zhou Chenglei often encountered schools like this when he went out to sea, but it was Jiang Xia’s first time. She quickly finished her bowl of noodles and told them to go eat while she started sorting the fish.

The three of them hurried to eat, knowing they would be busy afterward; the deck was covered in fish waiting to be sorted.

Aside from the blue round scad, this haul was quite varied. There were plenty of white shrimp, and the other miscellaneous fish included Spanish mackerel, mullet, yellow sea bream, black sea bream, and quite a few silver croakers.

The Spanish mackerel and mullet were quite large, most weighing over 1.5 to 2 kilograms. The yellow and black sea bream were smaller, around 300 to 350 grams each.

Jiang Xia spotted a Leopard Coral Grouper that was still lively and jumping, so she immediately grabbed it and put it in the live well. These wild-caught fish were extremely valuable in modern times, and they weren’t cheap now, either.

As Chinese New Year approached, the price of fish rose daily. There were only twenty days left until the new year, and Zhou Chenglei planned to harvest and sell all the fish in the net cages two days before New Year’s Eve.

Zhou Chenglei held a large bowl of noodles and sat beside Jiang Xia. While he ate, he fed her the seafood she liked.

“I’m full, you don’t need to feed me,” Jiang Xia said, turning her head away from a large shrimp held out to her. “You eat.”

“Eat more, or you won’t have the strength for beachcombing later.” Zhou Chenglei insisted, holding the chopsticks and the shrimp in front of her.

They had eaten breakfast early, and beachcombing was an exhausting task. How could she have the energy if she didn’t eat her fill?

Jiang Xia yielded and took a bite.

Only then did Zhou Chenglei slurp some noodles and eat a shrimp himself. After Jiang Xia finished that, he fed her a small octopus—just the right size for a single bite.

Shrimp, squid rings, small octopus—as long as it was something Jiang Xia liked, he would feed it to her, occasionally even giving her a sip of the hot soup.

The couple shared a single bowl. Zhou Chenglei sat with his back to his parents, using his body to shield Jiang Xia, trying his best to keep them from seeing what they were doing.

Father Zhou looked at the young couple in the distance and beamed with a knowing smile.

Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing just because you’re using your back as a shield!

Isn’t that just secret feeding? A new posture for bringing in luck!

Father Zhou also picked out the shrimp from his bowl and placed them in Mother Zhou’s bowl. Give her more, more luck!

Due to the era they were born in, they had been a couple since their teens. His old wife had accompanied him through everything, suffering through hardships, hunger, and exhaustion for decades, rarely getting to eat meat. Now that they were old, they could finally live a life where they could eat meat in large portions. He didn’t have to worry about saving it for the children for fear there wasn’t enough; if there wasn’t enough, they could simply cook more.

Mother Zhou smiled. “Alright, that’s enough for me. No need to give me more; you eat up.”

The two elders finished their meal quickly and went to sort the fish.

Once Zhou Chenglei felt Jiang Xia was full enough, he stopped feeding her. He quickly finished two large bowls of soup noodles and two sweet potato pancakes before joining the sorting.

In the distance, Li’s father saw that Zhou Chenglei’s boat had been stopped in the middle of the sea for quite some time. He said to his son, “I wonder if our relative’s boat has broken down. Let’s go take a look.”

Li Qingmin replied, “They have so many boats out together. Even if it is broken, it’s not like there are no other boats to help them. What are you worried about? Let’s keep trawling! We haven’t caught much today, and we just lowered this net. Look, isn’t Zhou Chengsen’s boat heading over there?”

Li’s father disagreed. “I can’t just ignore it. Let’s head over.”

On the other side, Zhou Chengxin had also noticed that Zhou Chenglei’s boat had been stationary for too long. He hauled in his net and headed over to see if the boat was damaged.

Then he saw them all standing there sorting fish. Was the boat really broken? Usually, one could sort the fish while continuing to trawl.

“Why have you stopped here? Is the boat broken?” Zhou Chengsen called out loudly.

Father Zhou chuckled. “No, we’re going beachcombing over at North Bay in a while. There’s a spring tide coming, so we’re just sorting the fish first.”

Tian Caihua felt a pang of envy when she saw the deck full of fish. “You caught so many!”

Damn it, she was starting to wonder if Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia knew some kind of incantation to lure the fish into their nets! Otherwise, how could their luck be so good? To think, they had trawled two nets that morning and only caught about 150 kilograms in total. Everything they had didn’t even equal one of Jiang Xia’s hauls!

It was all the fault of that jinx, Zhou Chengxin! If they had let Jiang Xia onto their new ship, today would have definitely been a grand opening with a full harvest.

Just then, the boat from the second branch arrived. Li’s father asked loudly, “Relative, is the boat broken?”

Father Zhou laughed. “No, we’re just resting for a bit and sorting fish here.”

Li Qingmin was stunned when he saw the boat full of fish! “Where did you trawl for those?”

It had been dark earlier, so he hadn’t seen where they had gone.

Father Zhou asked, “We’re planning to go beachcombing at the bay to the west. There’s a spring tide. Are you all coming?”

Zhou Chengxin shook his head. “I’m going to keep trawling.”

Beachcombing was something people did when they didn’t have a fishing boat or couldn’t go out to sea.

Li’s father asked, “Is it close?”

Father Zhou replied, “It’ll take about half an hour to get there.”

The area they had been trawling was now quite far from that particular beach.

Upon hearing this, Li Qingmin shook his head. “Then forget it. We’ll just stay here and trawl.”

Propelling the boat for over half an hour just to go pick up some cheap clams and blood clams was exhausting work, and they wouldn’t even earn back the cost of the fuel.

Tian Caihua declared, “I’m going!”

She didn’t want to stay with Zhou Chengxin! She wanted to stay with Jiang Xia!

Beachcombing, beachcombing—who knew? Maybe instead of sea life, they were picking up gold.

Chapter 413: Today’s Joy is Brought by Beachcombing

The three boats went their separate ways, and Zhou Chenglei headed straight for West Bay.

When they arrived, a vast stretch of the beach was exposed. It was much larger than what they had seen that morning!

In the distance, a few people were already beachcombing. Several boats were anchored nearby, though they were less than half the size of their own. They were likely villagers from the surrounding coastal areas or fishermen from another province.

Jiang Xia saw some of them bent over digging, while others were using hoes to turn the sand.

Once the boat was securely anchored, Zhou Chenglei brought out a ladder and lowered it. He went down first, then held the ladder steady to help Jiang Xia descend.

Mother Zhou gave Jiang Xia a steadying hand from the boat.

The ladder was something Zhou Chenglei had custom-made specifically to make it easier for Jiang Xia to get on and off the boat. Although he could have caught her if she jumped, the impact of the landing might be too much, and he didn’t want to risk hurting the baby.

When she was halfway down, Zhou Chenglei simply picked her up and carried her toward the shallow water. He was wearing a pair of chest waders and wasn’t afraid of getting wet. Jiang Xia was only wearing water boots.

After Jiang Xia was safely on the beach, Tian Caihua climbed down the ladder. She was also wearing chest waders and waded straight through the water.

Mother Zhou followed her down, and Father Zhou was the last to leave the boat after handing the tools to Zhou Chenglei.

Jiang Xia looked out over the beach. Where the tide had fully receded, the sand formed endless ripples that looked like frozen waves, a testament to the power of the receding water.

Tian Caihua walked into the shallow water, looked down, and let out a startled cry, “Scallops! So many scallops!”

At a glance, three or four scallops could be seen with their shells slightly open in the sand beneath the shimmering water. It was clear just how many scallops were on the beach today!

Tian Caihua didn’t even bother with her tools; she just bent down and started pulling them up!

Jiang Xia didn’t know how to spot the scallop eyes yet. She walked over and asked, “How can you tell there are scallops there?”

Just as she spoke, she saw a spot in the sand squirt water!

Jiang Xia walked over and saw the scallop eye. Once you had seen one, it was impossible to mistake it. She could see the scallop slightly open, with a bit of meat visible at the surface of the sand.

She bent down and poked it with her finger, and the shell immediately clamped shut.

Avoiding the sharp edges of the shell, Jiang Xia dug out the sand on both sides and pulled hard. She thought it would be easy, but at first, it didn’t budge. The creature fought back, burrowing deeper and creating a tight vacuum seal.

She grabbed the shell and gave it several firm shakes before finally pulling it out.

There was another one nearby. She pulled that one too!

Another one was just a step away!

She kept pulling! There were so many!

Pull, pull, pull!

The scallops were buried vertically in the sand, with their mouths facing up and their pointed ends facing down. They really were like pulling radishes out of the ground!

Because they were “planted” so deep, and there was water at the bottom of the holes, pulling them out of the sand created a “swooshing” sound. It was an incredibly satisfying and therapeutic sound to hear!

She pulled again!

Another big scallop!

There were also some spicy snails, blood clams, and cowries scattered around. She gathered them all and put them in a pile.

Zhou Chenglei came over to her with a bucket, his tools, and a chair. By then, Jiang Xia had already pulled up over a dozen scallops and gathered a small mound of snails.

Zhou Chenglei cautioned her, “The edges of the scallop shells are sharp. Don’t dig at them with your bare hands, or you’ll cut yourself.”

“I know, I’m wearing gloves,” Jiang Xia said as she tossed a freshly pulled scallop into the bucket.

“You can use the hoe to dig them out, like this.” Zhou Chenglei raised the hoe, gave the sand next to a scallop a light strike, and then hooked it. The scallop came out together with the sand.

It had exactly the same effect as when you pull up a radish, and mud comes out with it.

“This one’s huge!”

Jiang Xia bent down to pick it up. She compared it to her water boot, then to Zhou Chenglei’s. “This one is so big, it’s almost as large as your shoe!”

The beach probably hadn’t seen such a low spring tide in a long time, so the scallops were quite large.

“It’s the best season for them right now. They’re at their fattest, and the adductor muscles inside are thick and large.” Zhou Chenglei demonstrated a few more times, digging out several scallops before handing the hoe to her. “Use the hoe so you don’t have to bend over as much. You dig them out, and I’ll pick them up.”

He bent down and quickly tossed the scallops into the bucket.

The hoe was relatively light with a long handle, so Jiang Xia didn’t find it tiring at all. Plus, she could lean on the handle for support while standing.

“Okay.” Jiang Xia took the hoe and started prying up scallops.

Zhou Chenglei picked up what she dug and dug some more himself.

Jiang Xia wasn’t as experienced as him; she only knew there was a scallop when they were visible. He, however, could spot the hidden ones just from the faint traces on the surface of the sand. He also dug directly whenever he saw snail eyes.

Scallops were everywhere, and so were various sea snails. The snail eyes of spicy snails and sand snails were visible all over the place. In some spots, three or four snails were clustered together in a single nest.

The whole family was having a wonderful time! Today’s joy was truly brought by beachcombing.

Jiang Xia even spotted a razor clam hole. She took some salt and sprinkled it into the opening; a moment later, the razor clam popped out.

Razor clam holes were common, but catching them was a bit of a hassle. Digging for scallops was much more efficient, so she focused on getting as many of those as possible.

Jiang Xia then noticed two identical round holes about fifteen centimeters apart. The openings were quite large. “Zhou Chenglei, what’s in these holes? It’s not a sea snake, is it?”

Zhou Chenglei glanced over. “No, those two holes are connected. It should be a mantis shrimp burrow.”

He stepped on one of the holes and stomped a few times. With every stomp, water squirted out of the other hole. After three or four stomps, a mudskipper came flying out.

Jiang Xia: “…”

Zhou Chenglei quickly grabbed it and put it in the bucket.

“I thought you said it was a mantis shrimp burrow?” Jiang Xia asked.

Zhou Chenglei replied, “The mudskipper must have been visiting the mantis shrimp’s house.”

Jiang Xia burst out laughing. Seeing her smile, Zhou Chenglei laughed too.

Then Jiang Xia spotted a pair of flower crabs “fighting” in a small tide pool. They were a decent size, so she quickly crouched down to grab them.

“Watch out for their claws.”

“I know. I’m an old fisherwoman now.”

Zhou Chenglei laughed again.

Jiang Xia expertly avoided their raised pincers and tossed both of them into the bucket. There was a scallop in the same tide pool, so she dug that up too and threw it into the bucket Zhou Chenglei was carrying.

Zhou Chenglei also reached down and picked up a large fan shell. Then he dug up another scallop.

A few steps later, he spotted a long-legged octopus and snatched it up! Then another scallop!

Jiang Xia saw a shrimp stranded on the sand. Thinking it was dead, she poked it with her hoe. It suddenly sprang to life and started jumping away, and she quickly gave chase to catch it.

She saw a star-shaped mark in the sand and reached down; sure enough, it was a small starfish.

Another scallop, dug! It was so plump!

A cluster of spicy snails, gathered!

…

Today’s beachcombing was a scallop to the left, a blood clam to the right, a clam in front, and a spicy snail behind.

After just half an hour, the couple had already filled three buckets with scallops.

Zhou Chenglei asked Jiang Xia, “Are you tired? Want to take a break?”

He had brought a bamboo chair and a wooden board down with him earlier.

“Not yet. I’ll rest after an hour.” Jiang Xia noticed a small tide pool squirting water.

She quickly crouched down and reached into the sand to dig it up, but she never expected to pull out such a big fellow!

Jiang Xia cried out in surprise.

Chapter 414: A Strange Smell

Zhou Chenglei had been right by her side, and when he saw Jiang Xia jump back in fright, he reacted instantly.

He dropped the bucket in his hand and caught her.

The moment Jiang Xia was pulled into Zhou Chenglei’s arms, she grabbed his arm and tried to pull him away. “A snake!”

It was thick and round, struggling in the mud, and it had even tried to bite her!

Knowing she was deathly afraid of snakes, Zhou Chenglei simply scooped her up in his arms before turning his gaze toward the small puddle. A thick mud dragon was struggling in the sludge.

“It’s not a snake; it’s a mud dragon,” he said. He supported her with one arm while gently stroking her back with his other hand, watching the mud dragon writhe and try to burrow into the sand.

A mud dragon? What on earth was that? Jiang Xia looked over. The thing was covered in mud; she could only see its slightly pointed head. It was shaped exactly like a snake, with a thick, long body.

When she had touched it earlier, she was certain it was a snake. It certainly looked like one!

Father Zhou came running over at that moment. “What happened?”

Jiang Xia shifted slightly, signaling for Zhou Chenglei to put her down.

Zhou Chenglei let go, setting her on her feet, but he kept hold of her wrist. He could feel her pulse was still faster than usual; she was clearly still shaken. He took her hand and held it, their fingers interlocked.

“It’s nothing. Xiaxia caught a mud dragon and thought it was a snake. It gave her a fright.”

“A mud dragon? You actually found a mud dragon? These things are rare and hard to come by! They are incredibly nourishing!” Father Zhou squatted down and quickly grabbed the mud dragon before it could hide.

He held it up by the head in front of them, grinning broadly. “This one is fat! These things are worth a lot of money! Highly nourishing!”

“…”

Jiang Xia silently took a step back and asked Zhou Chenglei, “What are the effects of a mud dragon?”

Father Zhou answered cheerfully, “Mud dragons are exceptionally good for the bones and muscles. They work wonders, especially for the lower back. One bowl of mud dragon medicinal soup is perfect for relaxing the muscles and stimulating blood circulation.”

The mud dragon belongs to the eel family, and its scientific name is the Bengal eel. It has a conical head, a reddish tail, and a somewhat fierce temperament.

The people in this region believed that mud dragons could strengthen bones and muscles. Anyone with a fall, an injury, or a fracture would want to drink a bowl of mud dragon soup or wine infused with it.

Mother Zhou and Tian Caihua walked over as well.

When Tian Caihua saw the thick mud dragon in Father Zhou’s hand, her eyes widened. “That mud dragon is huge. It must weigh about 1.5 to 2 kilograms, right?”

Father Zhou laughed. “Just about! We’ll stew a medicinal soup tonight! The whole family can have some to nourish themselves.”

Zhou Chenglei suggested, “Let’s use it for infused wine instead.”

If they made soup, his mother would definitely insist he drink it. He really didn’t need any “waist nourishment” lately.

Moreover, Jiang Xia was pregnant, so it wasn’t suitable for her to drink a medicinal soup that was too potent. He had also heard that women often suffered from back issues after giving birth, and his mother frequently complained of a localized backache. If they infused it in wine, his mother and Jiang Xia could have a small glass whenever their backs felt uncomfortable in the future.

“Infused wine works too. I’ll go to town to buy some herbs for the infusion,” Father Zhou said happily.

Jiang Xia thought of Zhang Fuyan, who was always getting injured. She figured that once the wine was ready, she should set aside a bottle for her to help strengthen her bones and muscles.

Tian Caihua’s lips twitched. Her own father suffered from chronic back pain and had been asking her to find a mud dragon to make soup for him. However, she hadn’t come across one for over half a year. She had seen someone catch one at the pier before, but someone else had bought it before she could.

She eyed the mud dragon. Since it was so big, surely it would be fine to give half to her parents?

Jiang Xia bent down to pick up a fan shell at her feet. “Let’s go. Let’s keep looking to see if there are more mud dragons.”

Zhou Chenglei asked, “You’re not afraid anymore?”

Jiang Xia replied, “It’s not a snake, so why should I be?”

She was still a little afraid, to be honest. If she were told to catch it or clean it herself, she wouldn’t dare touch it. But he was right there, wasn’t he?

Hearing this, Tian Caihua also focused her search on the small puddles.

The family continued forward, picking things up here and digging things up there.

With so many scallops around—and all of them worth money—they had to forage with all their might and gather as many as possible.

During a spring tide, kilometers of the beach were exposed. One could only imagine how many treasures were hidden there!

Jiang Xia bent over and casually picked up oysters, blood clams, and clams, tossing them into the bucket. Then, she spotted a pair of crab eyes.

She hooked it out with her hoe. It was a flower crab about the size of Zhou Chenglei’s palm.

Zhou Chenglei pressed its shell down with his shovel and picked it up.

They continued picking, catching, and digging!

The scallops here had likely grown for a year or two; every single one was huge, quickly filling the buckets to the brim!

One bucket was soon full. Then another.

The blood clams, clams, and spicy snails were also large. Zhou Chenglei ignored the small ones and only picked the ones that were big enough.

After half an hour, Zhou Chenglei asked Jiang Xia, “Are you tired?”

“Not tired.” Who would get tired so quickly when there was money to be picked up? Jiang Xia felt she could keep going for another thirty minutes.

“Pick for fifteen more minutes, then take a rest,” Zhou Chenglei said, checking his watch.

“Okay.”

Thirteen minutes later, Zhou Chenglei quickly walked back and brought over the bamboo chair and a wooden board.

He placed the board on the sand and then set the bamboo chair on top of it. This way, when Jiang Xia sat down, the chair legs wouldn’t sink into the sand, and she would sit more steadily.

Jiang Xia picked up one last scallop, walked over, and sat down to rest.

She sat there basking in the sun, watching the others forage non-stop. Watching them made her want to join back in!

Forget it, she shouldn’t look. She picked up her water flask and took a drink while gazing out at the sea.

In the distance, by the mangroves, thousands of seabirds were circling, likely pecking at the fish and shrimp exposed on the beach.

The afternoon sun was a bit intense. With the sun evaporating the moisture, the beach had a bit of a scent. Particularly on a beach like this that had just recently receded, still covered in sea mud—it wasn’t exactly a pleasant smell.

Jiang Xia didn’t mind it at first. If you live by the sea, you can’t be picky about the smell; you have to accept the odors along with the ocean’s bounty.

But as she sat there, she began to notice a faint, peculiar scent drifting from nearby.

Lately, she had noticed her sense of smell becoming increasingly sensitive. It was much sharper than before, and she could pick up even the slightest odors. She could smell things that even Zhou Chenglei couldn’t detect.

It smelled a bit like wood. Jiang Xia didn’t think much of it, assuming it was coming from the wooden board under her chair.

A moment later, a breeze blew past, carrying a waft of fragrance.

This time, she was certain it wasn’t the wood beneath her feet.

Jiang Xia turned her head to look at a large log not far away, which was draped with some sea grass and a few pieces of kelp. She suspected the scent was coming from the sun baking the kelp and sea grass, so she ignored it and went back to watching the sea and the others happily digging for scallops.

However, that scent kept wafting over, making it impossible to ignore.

She wasn’t sure if smelling it too much was a good thing or not.

Jiang Xia stood up, moved her chair, dragged the board along, and changed her seating spot.

Zhou Chenglei had been keeping a portion of his attention on Jiang Xia the whole time. Seeing her move her chair, he walked back to her side. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just a strange smell. I’m moving a bit further away to sit.”

Zhou Chenglei reached out to take the bamboo chair and the board, carrying them further away before setting them down. Jiang Xia walked over beside him and sat back down.

Zhou Chenglei walked toward the cluster of driftwood. He suspected there might be dead fish or shrimp there and, worried Jiang Xia would still smell it, intended to cover it with sand.

Jiang Xia looked at that log, suddenly feeling that something wasn’t right.

Chapter 415: The Great Log

Jiang Xia stood up quickly and chased after Zhou Chenglei, pulling him along as she ran toward the object. “Smell this wood!”

Zhou Chenglei: “…”

The two of them arrived before the massive log. Jiang Xia used her hands to clear away the seaweed and kelp draped over it.

She lowered her head and took a sniff.

It was so fragrant!

Excited, Jiang Xia tugged at Zhou Chenglei’s hand. “Smell it! Smell how fragrant it is.”

Once the seaweed was removed, Zhou Chenglei could smell it, even though the wood was still encrusted with sea mud and sand.

He recognized it immediately.

It was agarwood.

He just didn’t know the quality yet.

He pulled out a small knife and shaved off a sliver; amber-colored resin seeped out.

He used a lighter to burn the wood shavings, and a wisp of white smoke rose.

A faint fragrance mingled with the scent of sea mud wafted toward them, filling the air with a rich aroma.

It was the unique scent of sinking agarwood. Quite good.

Jiang Xia looked at him expectantly. “Is it agarwood? It’s agarwood, right?”

Zhou Chenglei nodded. “Yes.”

Jiang Xia beamed!

With such a large piece of agarwood, how could she not smile?

But her smile quickly faded.

As she cleared away the sand and seaweed, she said, “I wonder how long this thing has been soaking in the seawater. It hasn’t rotted, has it?”

Zhou Chenglei was also cleaning it. “It shouldn’t have. The fragrance smells very pure.”

Jiang Xia also felt the scent was very pleasant. (She completely forgot how she had been so disgusted a moment ago that she wanted to sit further away.)

“Should I call Dad over to help carry it to the water’s edge to wash it clean before we hoist it onto the boat?” After saying this, Jiang Xia shouted toward Father Zhou, “Dad! Dad! Come over here for a second!”

Hearing Wealth-bringer’s call, Father Zhou turned around and saw Jiang Xia waving.

Good heavens!

Today’s fortune-making moment had arrived!

Wealth-bringer waving was more effective than a Lucky Cat waving its paw off!

“I’m coming! What’s up? Did you find some treasure?”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Dad, come help move this log.”

A log?

Could there be some hidden secret inside the wood?

Had someone hidden gold inside it?

Or had she stumbled upon a piece of Golden Silk Phoebe?

Wealth-bringer really was Wealth-bringer. Never mind having the golden touch!

Now she even had the touch to turn wood into gold!

“I’m coming!” Father Zhou quickly dropped his bucket, wishing he could run at the speed of light!

Mother Zhou also heard Jiang Xia calling Father Zhou, but she didn’t understand what there was to move regarding a log.

It wasn’t like they were going to haul a thick log home just to grow wood-ear mushrooms, right?

Or perhaps there was some good catch underneath the wood!

Tian Caihua also thought they had found something good under the log.

If they found another mud dragon, she would ask Jiang Xia for one to take back to her parents’ house so her father could make some infused wine.

Tian Caihua picked up her scallops as she walked over to take a look.

Father Zhou reached Jiang Xia’s side, sized up the log carefully, and whispered, “We’re lifting this? What’s the secret with this wood?”

Jiang Xia: “Dad, smell it.”

Father Zhou leaned in close to the wood and took a deep breath of the “aura of wealth”!

There was a fragrance!

The scent of gold really was different!

“So fragrant! What kind of wood is this?”

“Agarwood.”

Agarwood?!

Such a massive piece of agarwood?!

Agarwood trees took forever to grow. He had seen an agarwood tree that had been planted for twenty years and wasn’t even as thick as his arm.

Besides, a grown agarwood tree didn’t necessarily become agarwood.

This piece was thicker than his waist; it must be a century-old specimen.

Father Zhou couldn’t help but press his face against the massive log and sniff the agarwood from top to bottom, from one end to the other!

Fragrant!

It was truly fragrant!

It smelled exactly like money!

Zhou Chenglei: “…”

Zhou Chenglei said, “Dad, let’s carry this to the water’s edge, wash it off, and see if the seawater damaged it.”

Father Zhou glared at him. What a jinx! “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything! It definitely isn’t damaged! Would it be this fragrant if it were?”

If something Wealth-bringer found was ruined, then it wouldn’t have been Wealth-bringer finding it, but his eldest daughter-in-law!

He had already confirmed it from end to end; it was saturated with the scent of money!

It was incredibly fragrant!

“Let’s go! I’ll take this end, you take the other. Hurry, wash it clean and get it on the boat before the sea mud corrodes it.”

Father Zhou studied the agarwood, looking for a place to grip. He cautioned Zhou Chenglei, “Lift it carefully. If you scrape off a piece, I’ll skin you alive!”

“…”

Zhou Chenglei didn’t bother arguing with his father. Finding an easy leverage point, he braced the massive log with both arms.

Father Zhou also lifted his end. It was quite heavy!

He estimated it was about fifty to a hundred kilograms!

Father and son struggled to carry the log toward the water’s edge.

Tian Caihua walked over and asked, “Where are you taking that log?”

They surely weren’t taking it home to burn as firewood just because it was big?

Father Zhou replied, “This is agarwood! We’re taking it to the water to wash it.”

Agarwood?!!!!

Tian Caihua’s eyes scanned the massive log from top to bottom, then from bottom to top!

She had never seen agarwood before, but she had heard of it!

She heard agarwood was incredibly expensive!

With the log being this large, how much would it be worth?

Waaaah, she had seen this log earlier too!

She had even picked up a scallop, a shrimp, and a few sea snails right next to it!

Why hadn’t she noticed this huge log was agarwood?

It was too heavy. Father Zhou said to Zhou Chenglei, “Stop a moment. Put it down. I need a rest.”

They had been digging for scallops all the way and had unknowingly wandered nearly one kilometer away from the water’s edge.

Mother Zhou saw them moving the log toward the water and ran over. “What’s going on? You want to bring this log home? You’re not seriously planning to use it for growing mushrooms, are you?”

Father Zhou panted slightly. “I’d love to use it for mushrooms, but I’m afraid I can’t afford to! This is agarwood!”

Mother Zhou: “…”

Agarwood?

“This whole big piece is agarwood?”

Father Zhou chuckled. “It should be. I’ve smelled it; it’s fragrant from head to toe! Take a sniff.”

Mother Zhou had never seen agarwood either, only heard of it. She stepped forward to take a whiff.

Mother Zhou sniffed hard. “It does have a bit of a scent, but the smell of sea mud is very strong.”

“That’s why we’re taking it to be cleaned! Hurry, come help.”

So Mother Zhou and Tian Caihua also rushed to help carry it.

The four of them worked together to move the massive log to the seaside and set it down. Mother Zhou climbed onto the boat to get a brush.

Father Zhou said, “Don’t use a brush! Use a cloth! A clean cloth, and make sure it doesn’t smell like fish.”

“Okay!” Mother Zhou replied and climbed onto the boat.

She found two clean cloths and tossed them to Father Zhou. “Only these two rags are clean.”

“That’ll do.” Father Zhou caught them and handed one to Zhou Chenglei.

The father and son began to scrub the log.

Father Zhou saw Zhou Chenglei scrubbing vigorously and couldn’t help but say, “Are you scrubbing your own skin or something? Why are you using so much force? That’s enough, move aside! Your mother and I will do it!”

If he scrubbed off a layer of bark, he was scrubbing off a layer of gold! Did the boy not understand that?

It made Father Zhou’s heart ache just watching!

Mother Zhou got off the boat. “I’ll do it, I’ll do it. You go back to picking up scallops!”

It worked out perfectly, as her back was aching from the beachcombing anyway.

Zhou Chenglei gave the rag to his mother and walked back to the beach to continue collecting scallops.

Tian Caihua also went back to her task. Even if she didn’t find any agarwood, she had to bring back some scallops.

As she always said, while others were beachcombing, Jiang Xia was just picking up gold.

Jiang Xia saw Zhou Chenglei walking over and waved at him. “Zhou Chenglei, come look at this hole!”

Chapter 416: Foreign Species

Jiang Xia discovered a large hole. It looked a bit like the rat holes she often saw in the fields, so she was a bit afraid to peek inside.

She had heard that snakes and rats often shared the same nest, and she was terrified there might be a snake inside.

Jiang Xia tugged on Zhou Chenglei’s hand. “What kind of hole is this? A rat hole?”

Zhou Chenglei naturally took her hand and glanced at it.

“A crab hole.”

He crouched down to look inside, and sure enough, there was a large mud crab. “There’s a crab.”

Jiang Xia also crouched down, hunching over and tilting her head to look in. “That’s a huge mud crab!”

In modern times, a wild mud crab of this size would cost two or three hundred yuan.

“Mhm.” Zhou Chenglei took a shovel and dug away the sand at the entrance.

Mud crabs were very nourishing. He planned to catch it and steam it for her dinner tonight.

Jiang Xia hadn’t eaten crab in a long time. Though crabs were considered “cool” in traditional medicine, eating one or two occasionally wouldn’t hurt.

Jiang Xia crouched beside him, watching intently.

Inside the hole, the large mud crab raised its two massive pincers, standing guard in full battle array!

But then, a pile of sand fell, burying it completely!

After clearing the entrance, Zhou Chenglei used the shovel to scoop it out, tossing it to the side.

The mud crab immediately scrambled away, pincers raised high.

“Let me catch it!”

Hearing her, Zhou Chenglei used the shovel to flick a bit of sand over the crab’s eyes, blocking its vision.

Jiang Xia immediately reached out from behind, grabbed its shell, and lifted it up.

Once the mud crab’s vision cleared, it waved its pincers again.

Jiang Xia dropped it into her mesh bag.

The couple continued forward, picking up scallops and sea snails.

As before, one person used a hoe to pry them loose, and the other leaned down to pick them up.

Zhou Chenglei also spotted a bone eel’s burrow, but fearing Jiang Xia might be scared, he didn’t catch it and simply led her away.

Jiang Xia didn’t see it and remained blissfully unaware.

As they searched, Jiang Xia noticed a green mussel attached to a piece of driftwood.

She picked it up. “Zhou Chenglei, look, what’s this?”

Zhou Chenglei glanced over. “A mussel.”

In the north, they were called “sea rainbows.” They were an introduced species that people in the north had already started farming. They were primarily for export and sold very well.

He had heard they were easy to raise and had a high yield.

However, Zhou Chenglei had never seen them in the waters around here before.

Jiang Xia pulled the mussel off the driftwood.

The mussel had byssal threads that clung tightly to the wood. Jiang Xia had to use some force to pull it off before tossing it into the bucket.

“Do you think this mussel drifted over from the northern seas, or is it possible they’ve started growing in our local waters?”

Zhou Chenglei replied, “We’ll have to see if there are many on this beach. If there are, they’re likely growing nearby.”

They continued walking and found two or three more mussels.

Zhou Chenglei noted, “It seems our local waters are indeed growing mussels.”

“Mhm. Next time, let’s go check the reefs around the nearby islands.”

Jiang Xia had an idea. She wanted to collect some mussel spats, rent a stretch of beach in the village, and set up wooden stakes to farm these mussels.

Mussels had an incredible reproductive capacity, releasing millions or even tens of millions of eggs at a time.

They could be harvested in just one year.

Moreover, she could build oyster stakes—raising oysters on the upper level and mussels on the lower level.

“Alright.”

After another half hour of foraging, Zhou Chenglei worried about the tide. They still had to hoist that piece of agarwood onto the boat. He said, “Let’s stop here for today. I’m afraid the tide will come in soon.”

“Okay.” The window between low and high tide was only a few hours; it was likely nearly time for the water to return.

One could challenge the mountains, but never the sea. Since no one could accurately predict the exact moment the tide would surge, beachcombers had to keep a constant eye on the water line.

Once the tide started coming in, they had to leave immediately.

While the tide hadn’t turned yet, it would be too late if they waited until the water reached them to head back to the boat.

Zhou Chenglei tied the bags of scallops together with rope and carried them using his hoe as a shoulder pole. In his other hand, he carried the bamboo chair and the wooden board.

He brought these things to the boat first. Once finished, he returned to the beach to carry Jiang Xia back on board.

Then, he and Father Zhou worked together to hoist the massive piece of agarwood onto the boat.

Mother Zhou and Tian Caihua also helped. After quite a bit of effort, the family finally managed to get the giant log onto the deck.

As they were hoisting the wood, the tide was slowly beginning to rise.

Once the wood was secure, Zhou Chenglei went to the cockpit to steer the boat away.

Father Zhou and Mother Zhou continued cleaning the log.

Tian Caihua helped as well.

The cleaner they got it, the more money it would fetch. They were desperate to wash it until it was spotless.

Jiang Xia was hungry and sat nearby to eat.

The wood was mostly clean now. Without the smell of sea mud, the fragrance it emitted was even more pleasant.

Since they had traveled quite far out this time, it took over two hours for the boat to return to the pier.

It was the time when a hundred boats returned to harbor, and the pier was as bustling as ever.

After Zhou Chenglei docked the boat, he took Jiang Xia home first. He needed to get the tractor to transport the wood home.

Father Zhou and Mother Zhou stayed at the pier to sell the fish.

The boats of the first and second branches, as well as Zhou Yongguo and Zhou Kangping’s boats, had also returned. They were still at the pier and could help move the fish to the purchasing station.

When Zhou Bingqiang saw the giant log on their boat, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Yongfu, you hauled such a big log back? Are you planning to use it to grow wood ear mushrooms?”

Father Zhou replied with a look of immense pride, “You hit the nail on the head! I did bring it back to grow wood ear mushrooms. But these are golden wood ears—gold as in money!”

Some other villagers joked, “Yongfu, is your house out of firewood? If you’re short on fuel, just come to my place and take some! I have plenty of wood. Why waste the effort dragging a log out of the ocean? It’s so heavy, the fuel cost for the boat alone is a loss!”

“Didn’t you just finish your new house? There should be plenty of wood left over from pouring the floor slab, right? Is that not enough for you?”

“Haha, you’re also right! My house is short on ‘fortune’—very short! So the sea sent ‘good fortune’ my way! Once this fire of wealth is lit, things are going to be roaring!”

Returning from their first trip to sea of the New Year with a giant piece of “wood” felt like a wonderful omen to Father Zhou.

The coming year was bound to be prosperous! A roaring fire of wealth! A steady stream of fortune was coming their way!

Li’s father jumped onto the Zhou family’s boat. He leaned down and took a sniff of the giant log. He looked at Father Zhou in disbelief. “In-law, did you really fish up a piece of agarwood?”

He had found it hard to believe his eyes, but that scent was unmistakable!

Father Zhou said with a chuckle, “I knew you had an eye for quality! While we were beachcombing today, A-Lei’s wife accidentally found this giant log on the beach. Who would have thought it was agarwood?”

Zhou Bingqiang: “…”

Li’s father: “…”

“You found this while beachcombing?” Li’s father couldn’t help but ask.

Father Zhou laughed. “That’s right!”

Li’s father: “…”

If he had known, he would have gone beachcombing too!

Tian Caihua was feeling incredibly sour. She had been picking up scallops right next to this log and hadn’t realized it was agarwood. She had missed it completely!

In her bitterness, she wanted others to feel just as miserable as she did. “That’s right! It was just lying there on the beach. We saw it before we even got off the boat! None of us knew it was agarwood. It was only when Xiao Xia sat down next to it to rest and caught the scent that we realized! You’re really something, in-law, to recognize it as agarwood at a single glance.”

If she was going to be miserable, everyone should be miserable. If she was going to have regrets, everyone should have regrets!

She felt like she had personally missed out on a million yuan!

Hadn’t Li’s father worked at a timber mill before?

If he had gone along to beachcomb, he surely would have recognized it as agarwood at first sight, right?

Chapter 417: Money

When Tian Caihua said that, Li’s father felt even more regretful.

He had worked in a lumber mill before; if he had gone beachcombing, he definitely would have recognized that it was agarwood at a single glance!

Li Qingmin was also full of regret. Why hadn’t he followed them to go beachcombing?

If he had gone, such a massive piece of agarwood would have been theirs!

How much would a piece of agarwood this size even be worth?

Zhou Bingqiang was also in disbelief. He jumped onto the boat to see if it was real, even leaning down to sniff it. There was indeed a fragrant scent, quite different from ordinary wood.

Looking at this gargantuan piece of agarwood, Zhou Bingqiang began to deeply question his life!

He had never seen agarwood before, but he had heard it was incredibly valuable.

When would Zhou Yongfu’s absolute stroke of luck finally turn toward him?

Zhou Yongfu and Zhou Chenglei were already rich enough, weren’t they? Beginning this year, shouldn’t it be his family’s turn to make a fortune?

The villagers swarmed onto the Zhou family’s boat to catch a glimpse of the agarwood and smell it to see if it truly carried a fragrance.

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife couldn’t help but stealthily reach out to touch it.

Mother Zhou saw her hand—which had just been sorting fish and was covered in scales and filth—and couldn’t help but say, “Don’t touch it! No touching, only looking. Everyone, just look. It took us ages to wash it clean! Thank you!”

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife pulled her hand back, feeling disdainful in her heart. It’s just a piece of wood. So precious! Can’t even touch it!

At that moment, Zhou Chengxin finished selling his fish and boarded the boat.

Seeing him, Tian Caihua quickly pulled him over. “Come over and look at this agarwood. Smell it. Carve its appearance and scent into your brain! Don’t you dare forget it, even in your dreams! Don’t let a treasure pass you by next time you see it in the sea or on the beach just because you don’t know what to pick up!”

Tian Caihua said this to Zhou Chengxin, but she was also saying it to herself.

The other villagers felt her words made perfect sense, so they scrutinized the wood closely and leaned in to sniff it.

Zhou Bingqiang’s wife took the opportunity to shout, “Ah Hua is right! Everyone, come and take a good look! If your eyes aren’t good, take a sniff and get to know it! If you run into it in the sea next time, you won’t miss out on hauling it in thinking it’s just ordinary wood. Everyone, learn what agarwood looks like—a tiny piece is worth more than a fish!”

It would be best if everyone came up and touched it, rubbing it until it stank.

Touch that agarwood until it became “stink-wood” so they couldn’t sell it!

With so many people, she didn’t believe she was the only one who wanted to touch it.

With so many people boarding the boat, some indeed couldn’t resist reaching out.

Father Zhou hurriedly shouted, “Don’t touch! Don’t touch! No touching! I just washed it clean! Don’t get the smell of fish on it! Just look, everyone, but don’t touch. If it doesn’t sell, we’ll lose money!”

Mother Zhou simply started ushering people off. “Alright, that’s enough looking! There are too many people; the boat is going to sink! Everyone, make way! We need to move the wood off the boat!”

Zhou Chengxin, Father Zhou, and Tian Caihua also began clearing the crowd.

It wasn’t until Zhou Chenglei drove the tractor over that the villagers finally disembarked, no longer obstructing them from moving the massive log.

Of course, some stayed behind to help with the heavy lifting.

A group of people worked together to move the agarwood off the boat and onto the tractor.

The tractor’s trailer wasn’t long enough; half the log hung out over the edge.

Father Zhou sat in the trailer, holding the log down to prevent it from falling off.

Mother Zhou and Zhou Chengxin stayed behind to sell fish.

Even after the tractor had driven far away, people were still asking Mother Zhou where the agarwood had been found.

Mother Zhou didn’t keep it a secret, telling them it was found in the western bay. She also mentioned that the western bay had a spring tide today, and they had collected many scallops.

When people saw the bags upon bags of scallops, each one exceptionally large, they all expressed interest in going to check it out tomorrow.

Some families who didn’t own boats asked Mother Zhou if they were going out to sea tomorrow, hoping to hitch a ride.

Mother Zhou didn’t agree impulsively, only saying, “I don’t know if we’re going out tomorrow. I don’t know if A-Lei is going to the city to sell that agarwood.”

Only then did the crowd back off.

Wait until there was no one left around Mother Zhou, Li’s father finally handed the money earned from this fishing trip to Mother Zhou. “My in-law, here is the money from this trip. It’s twenty-two yuan, six jiao, and seven fen in total. We’ve already taken our ten yuan in wages. Keep this and give the rest to A-Sen later!”

Mother Zhou took it with a smile. “Alright, thank you, in-law. You worked hard today.”

Then, Li’s father rummaged through the fish in his bucket to show Mother Zhou. “I’m taking this bucket of miscellaneous fish home to eat. We’ll be heading back now.”

Mother Zhou glanced at it and smiled. “Go ahead. Next time, keep one or two larger fish to take home. These are too small.”

“No need, these are enough. We’re off!”

“Alright, go back and get some rest early!”

And so, Li’s father and Li Qingmin departed.

When the father and son arrived home, Li’s mother immediately stepped forward to ask, “What fish did you catch today? How much did they sell for?”

Li’s father gave a stack of money to Li’s mother.

Their daughter had said that any money from the fish the two of them caught by hand would belong to them, as a gesture of her filial piety.

Li’s mother happily took the money and began counting.

Li Qingmin’s wife also asked him, “And you? Didn’t you catch any fish?”

Li Qingmin pulled out a stack of money and gave it to her. “No need to count. I caught three Spanish mackerel today, one of which weighed 5 kg. I also caught a Genuine Porgy and a few sea bass. They sold for sixteen yuan and eight jiao total. Dad and I get eight yuan and four jiao each.”

Li Qingmin’s wife couldn’t help counting it anyway. Including the five-yuan daily wage, it was thirteen yuan and four jiao. She smiled. “Not bad!”

They could earn over ten yuan every single day!

These days out at sea were simply too profitable!

Li Qingmin felt smug. Of course it’s not bad. They had picked out the most valuable fish and claimed they had caught them with hooks, so the money from those sales belonged to them.

Li’s mother knew about this as well, but she felt no guilt in taking the money.

They had married their daughter to Zhou Chengsen, and now father and son were working from dawn to dusk to help them out at sea and make money. Their daughter and son-in-law didn’t have to do a thing to get all that money.

Wasn’t it only right that the father and son took a bit more for themselves?

It was already generous of them not to demand half the total profit.

Li Qingmin’s wife asked, “How much did Xian-mei and the others earn today?”

Li Qingmin replied, “Over twenty-two yuan.”

Li Qingmin’s wife exclaimed, “That much!”

That was nearly ten yuan more than them.

Li Qingmin’s wife couldn’t help saying, “Once we save up enough money, let’s buy a boat of our own and go out to sea ourselves!”

Li Qingmin had the same plan. “Yeah, so be frugal and save the money.”

Hearing this, Li’s mother felt a spark of inspiration. She said to Li’s father, “Next time, take a few more fish and say you caught them. Anyway, no one will know if those fish were caught in the trawl net or by hook.”

Li’s father shook his head. “We can’t go too far.”

Taking a few good fish every day and claiming they were caught by hook was his limit.

Otherwise, if the in-laws or their son-in-law found out, it would be bad!

After all, who could guarantee they caught high-quality fish every single day?

Today, they had spent the whole day fishing but only caught two sea bass and some worthless small fish. If they had sold only those, they would have barely made a yuan.

With so many people at the pier, Li’s father didn’t dare make his actions too obvious.

Chapter 418: Transferring Schools

Dinner was held at Great-Grandma’s house. Knowing that Jiang Xia’s entire family had gone out to sea, He Xinghuan had prepared dinner for all of them.

The spread included braised pork, steamed sea bass, shrimp, and mixed fish stew.

Mixed fish stew was a staple in almost every household in the village, eaten nearly every day because it was both cheap and delicious. When someone lacked an appetite for rice, they could always mix the savory broth from the stew into their bowl to make it easier to eat.

Jiang Xia had brought along a woven sack of scallops, as well as large buckets of clams, spicy snails, and blood clams.

The scallops were steamed with minced garlic and vermicelli, while the rest were simply poached to be eaten dipped in soy sauce.

The scallops today were particularly plump, with exceptionally large adductor muscles that were both fresh and sweet. After being split in half and steamed, Jiang Xia ate ten of them along with the vermicelli. She didn’t eat much rice, finishing only half a small bowl.

During the meal, Great-Grandpa asked, “Next semester, I plan to have Zhou Jie transfer to the primary school in town. Should Zhou Zhou transfer as well? I can pick her up and drop her off along the way.”

Great-Grandma added, “The teachers in town teach better than the ones in the village. The village teachers conduct their classes in the local dialect, whereas the town teachers speak Mandarin.”

Great-Grandpa interjected, “Well, not every teacher there uses Mandarin.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xia replied, “We’ll think about it and discuss it.”

They had to go home and see if Zhou Zhou was willing. If Zhou Zhou wanted to go, she could certainly transfer to the town school. As for the commute, Jiang Xia intended to handle the drop-offs and pick-ups herself; she didn’t want to trouble Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma with that daily responsibility.

People are naturally prone to inertia; even when caring for one’s own children, there are times when one wants to slack off, let alone when caring for someone else’s.

After finishing dinner and returning home, Jiang Xia asked Zhou Zhou if she wanted to transfer to the primary school in town.

Zhou Zhou shook her head. “I don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

“It’s too far. Every time Sister Yingying comes back, she looks so busy and rushed when it’s time for school.”

Jiang Xia: “…”

That was because Zhou Ying was a particularly slow eater, and Li秀娴 was constantly nagging and rushing her, which made it seem hectic. The trip to town only took about fifteen minutes; it wasn’t far at all.

“Auntie can pick you up and drop you off. When Auntie is busy, you can go to school with Zhou Jie.”

“I don’t want to go. The school in town gives so much homework. Sister Yingying stays up so late every day doing it. And since she’s been studying in town, I’ve seen her struggle with math problems that I already know how to do! She doesn’t even know how to spell the pinyin for some words that I already know. It looks like the teachers in town are about the same.”

If there was anything she didn’t understand, she could just ask her Auntie and Uncle. In her eyes, her Auntie was more capable than any teacher. Besides, she got full marks on every exam now; transferring to the town school wasn’t going to get her a hundred and one percent.

What was the point of transferring?

Zhou Zhou didn’t want to transfer, nor did she want her Auntie to have to drive her every day.

By attending school in the village, she could walk there herself. The school was right next to the rice fields and vegetable patches. On the way home, she could pick wild flowers, catch fish, or dig up sweet potatoes. Sometimes, classmates would even break off pieces of sugarcane from their family’s fields to share with them. It was so much fun!

The village school gave very little homework, which she could finish during recess. Once she got home, she could herd the cows, geese, and ducks while roasting sweet potatoes and flying kites. She could even go to the beach to pick up sea snails and clams to roast and eat. How could life be better?

Mother Zhou spoke up, “It’s fine if she doesn’t go. It’s not like she’s going to university; isn’t primary school the same wherever you go? The town school and the village school aren’t that different. The teachers are at the same level.”

Seeing that Zhou Zhou truly didn’t want to go, Jiang Xia let it be. Zhou Zhou had a shy disposition; forcing her into a new environment with new classmates would mean she’d have to start over and adapt all over again, which might not be a good thing.

“If you don’t want to transfer, then you won’t. Have you finished today’s homework?”

“I finished! I did it all at school. I’ve already memorized the English words and sentences too. Auntie, listen and see if I made any mistakes.”

“Alright.”

Zhou Zhou recited them seriously.

When she finished, Jiang Xia patted her small head, praised her with a smile, and corrected a few pronunciations. Then, she told her to hurry and take a shower before bed, as it was nearly eight o’clock.

In this era, nine o’clock at night was already considered quite late. In a fishing village, most fishermen who needed to go out to sea were already asleep.

The next day, Jiang Xia woke up on time as usual, intending to continue joining the fishing trip.

Father Zhou had washed that piece of agarwood with fresh water again last night, fearing the salt in the seawater would be bad for the wood.

Zhou Chenglei planned to wait for it to dry completely before taking it to the city and asking Zhang Rong to send it to Hong Kong to be sold.

When Jiang Xia got out of bed, Zhou Chenglei was already gone from the room.

She put on her clothes and checked the time under the light; it was only four twenty-five.

Where had he gone so early?

Jiang Xia brushed her teeth and washed her face, then went downstairs. Seeing Mother Zhou, she asked, “Mom, where’s A-Lei?”

“He went with your father to catch octopuses.”

“Is there a spring tide happening here too?”

“Yes, many people from the village went. They should be back soon.”

In the middle of the night, Mother Zhou had heard many villagers walking past on the road, heading out for beachcombing and saying there was a spring tide.

Upon hearing the news, Father Zhou and Zhou Chenglei had both climbed out of bed and headed out. No matter when the spring tide occurred—even in the dead of night—the villagers would get up to go beachcombing.

The tide rose and fell every day, but it was only at the beginning and middle of the lunar month that the recession was particularly pronounced. The timing of the tides wasn’t fixed and changed every day.

During a spring tide, the water recedes very rapidly, leaving many shellfish behind on the beach before they have a chance to escape. This is why beachcombing during a spring tide yields such a bountiful harvest.

Furthermore, with every rising and falling tide, the gifts the ocean brings to humanity are always different.

Night is the time when octopuses come out to forage, so the chances of catching them while beachcombing at night are much higher.

Since the two men had to go out to sea today, Mother Zhou stayed behind to prepare breakfast instead of going beachcombing himself.

Mother Zhou estimated that the same beach from yesterday would still have a strong receding tide, and she planned to join the boat today as well.

“What time did they leave?” Jiang Xia had been exhausted from the previous day and had fallen into a deep sleep at nine o’clock, completely unaware of their departure.

“A little after midnight. They should be back any minute.”

Not long after Mother Zhou spoke, the father and son returned carrying a bucket and two large mesh bags full of scallops.

Both buckets were half-filled with octopuses.

Jiang Xia was surprised. “So many? And these octopuses are so big.”

Father Zhou said with a chuckle, “We were lucky and caught a lot. Others only got about a dozen.”

Mother Zhou smiled. “Take them onto the boat in a bit. I’ll clean and dry them while we’re out. You two, hurry up and wash your hands for breakfast.”

The ones they caught tonight were all long-armed octopuses. Once the internal organs were cleaned and they were spread out on bamboo mats to dry, they would remain quite large.

There were over a hundred octopuses in these two buckets. Once dried, they would be kept for Jiang Xia to promote hers milk production after she gave birth. Cooking three or four a day would last her a month.

Furthermore, their family had been using clay pots to catch octopuses continuously. Over these past few days, Mother Zhou had already dried 5 kg of fried fish.

Since their clothes had gotten wet from beachcombing, Zhou Chenglei and Father Zhou quickly changed, ate their breakfast, and then prepared to head out to sea.

While they were eating, Mother Zhou ran out to call Great-Grandma and Tang Ping’s mother to come along for beachcombing.

When the family arrived at the pier, they were half an hour late. Li’s father and Li Qingmin were already there waiting.

Ever since they discovered how much money could be made from fishing, the father and son were eager to set out earlier and earlier.

Because of the beachcombing opportunity today, Li’s mother and Li Qingmin’s wife had also come along.

Yesterday, Zhou Chenglei and the others had picked up several large bags of scallops, which were worth over ten yuan! Besides, scallops were delicious, and many people loved them.

Li’s father asked Father Zhou with a smile, “Relative, are you all going beachcombing again today?”

Father Zhou chuckled. “Yes, we are.”

After waiting for over half an hour, Li Qingmin was getting a bit impatient. “Why are you guys getting later and later!”

Zhou Chenglei glanced at him indifferently. “Did anyone ask you to wait?”

Li Qingmin: “…”

Chapter 419: The Reef Island

The four boats sped toward the pitch-black depths of the sea at their highest speeds.

Yesterday, Zhou Yongguo and Zhou Kangping had gone out to feed the fish; today, they didn’t need to, so they followed Zhou Chenglei to the western waters to fish.

The second branch’s boat intentionally stayed at the very back, trailing from a distance. Since they were angling, they didn’t want the Zhou family to see exactly what kind of fish they were hauling up.

After traveling some distance, the four boats began to maintain a safe gap as they cast their nets and started working.

They trawled as they moved toward the western waters.

Since the timing of the low tide wasn’t fixed, they headed over to check the area first.

Zhou Chenglei was at the helm, while Father Zhou went to catch up on some sleep. He fell into a deep slumber the moment the boat started moving. He had been woken up at midnight by the crowd of villagers heading out for beachcombing and had only gotten about three hours of sleep. He wasn’t in the mood for fishing today and prioritized sleeping.

Jiang Xia, Mother Zhou, Tian Caihua, Great-Grandma, and Zhou Kangping’s mother (Second Great-Aunt) worked together to clean the octopuses. With so many people, the hundred or so octopuses were quickly finished. They chatted in low voices.

Before they knew it, dawn broke, and the sun rose.

Zhou Chenglei steered the boat to the same area they had visited for beachcombing the day before.

Since the low tide hadn’t started yet, they decided to haul in the net first. Zhou Chenglei woke Father Zhou, and the father and son worked together to pull it up.

Jiang Xia took over the steering.

Great-Grandma watched Jiang Xia expertly handling the boat and couldn’t help but walk over. Looking at Jiang Xia at the helm, she smiled and praised, “Xiao Xia, you’ve learned to sail so quickly?”

The others followed her over to avoid getting in the way of Father Zhou and his son.

Mother Zhou smiled and said, “Xiao Xia is a fast learner at everything. She’s even planning to learn how to operate the large boat during the first lunar month while A-Lei is free, and then take the exam for her license.”

Tian Caihua asked in surprise, “Xiao Xia, you’re planning to get a license for the large boats?”

Jiang Xia nodded. “Yes, that’s the plan.”

She had already finished reading the complex materials for the Gaokao and was now studying for the boating license.

Hearing this, Tian Caihua couldn’t help but say, “We don’t fish in the first lunar month. Just for the sake of learning the large boat, how much fuel will you waste in a day? Besides, Xiao Xia, why do you need a license for the large boat? It costs a lot of money to take the exam. Even if you get it, it won’t be of much use. Anyway, A-Lei has one. As long as you know how to drive, it’s fine.”

In the village, who actually had a license to go out to sea? Zhou Chengxin had gotten one, but it just sat there unused!

Jiang Xia replied, “We’ll see when the time comes! I figured I’d have free time in the first lunar month. If it’s easy, I’ll take it; if it’s too hard, I’ll forget about it. I was originally planning to get a motorcycle license, so I thought I might as well get the boating license too.”

Jiang Xia felt that since they had a large boat at home, having a license was good preparation. If she ever went on a distant seas voyage with Zhou Chenglei and something happened to him, she would still be able to sail.

Plus, she knew that for any license, the earlier you take the exam, the easier it usually is.

Tian Caihua thought a motorcycle license was more practical. “A motorcycle license is more useful, though even that isn’t essential. Are you going to get a driver’s license for cars too?”

Jiang Xia said, “I already have a driver’s license for cars.”

Tian Caihua: “…”

She didn’t even have a motorcycle license, yet she already had a car license? As expected of a young lady from the Jiang family.

Great-Grandma smiled and said, “It’s good to get licenses! With a license, you don’t have to fear anything. Just think about how we need a letter of certification even to stay in a guesthouse in the city! A-Lei also told Yongguo to use the first lunar month to get a license, and maybe get a tractor license too.”

Second Great-Aunt added, “That’s right, A-Lei also told Kangping to go for his license during the days they aren’t out at sea in the first lunar month.”

Hearing this, Tian Caihua felt she should tell Zhou Chengxin to get a license for the large boat as well. As for herself, she didn’t want to waste the money on the exam, but learning how to operate it would be useful. She said to Jiang Xia, “Xiao Xia, when you learn to sail the large boat, call me. I’ll learn with you!”

Learning with Jiang Xia now would save on fuel costs, and she’d be able to sail when they eventually got their own large boat.

Zhou Chenglei also intended for Zhou Chengxin to learn and get a license, so Jiang Xia agreed, “Sure!”

Mother Zhou saw the father and son struggling a bit with the net and went to help. Great-Grandma and the others followed to see if they could assist.

Soon, a large bag of fish was hauled onto the deck.

Zhou Chenglei poured out the catch. It mainly consisted of small yellow croakers, yellowfin seabream, sea bass, and other small fish, along with a large Greater Amberjack and some blue-spotted Spanish mackerel weighing a few kilograms each.

In this region, blue-spotted Spanish mackerel was the tastiest and most expensive among Spanish mackerels, and that large Greater Amberjack alone was worth dozens of yuan.

Small yellow croakers weren’t as expensive as large ones, but their price was decent now. With the end-of-year price hikes, they could sell for 70 to 80 fen per 500 grams.

Tian Caihua: “…”

Another single haul that earned as much as her family’s boat made in a day.

She looked toward her own fishing boat but didn’t see many fish in their nets.

Great-Grandma said happily, “This is a great haul. So many big fish, and lots of small yellow croakers too.”

Second Great-Aunt asked, “That Greater Amberjack must weigh 25 kg, right?”

Great-Grandma pulled up a small stool to help sort the fish. “Should be about that.”

Second Great-Aunt also sat down to help. When riding on someone else’s boat for beachcombing, it was only right to help with the chores.

Tian Caihua sat down as well. Today, both their boats were earning money together. She didn’t expect to out-earn Jiang Xia’s boat; she’d be satisfied if her boat earned just as much. Yesterday, the two boats of the fourth branch had made over 1,500 yuan total!

Father Zhou went to steer while Zhou Chenglei cast the net again, and Jiang Xia joined everyone in sorting the fish.

With so many hands, the task was finished in half an hour.

Zhou Chenglei steered further out. He remembered a reef island dozens of nautical miles away. He wanted to see if there were any mussels on that reef island.

Since it was a rocky island, the boat couldn’t get too close to avoid hitting the reefs. Zhou Chenglei called Jiang Xia over and asked her to use the binoculars to see what was clinging to the rocks.

He had bought these binoculars a long time ago at a high price.

Although mussels have a slight green tint on their edges, when they grow in large clusters, they look black from a distance, similar to the color of the rocks. You can’t tell what they are without getting close.

Jiang Xia looked through the binoculars for a while and smiled. “It really looks like mussels.”

Zhou Chenglei said, “After hauling this net, I’ll drop Mother and the others off at the beach for beachcombing, then I’ll come back to check.”

Jiang Xia replied, “Okay.”

Two hours later, it was time to pull the net.

This haul consisted mostly of leatherjackets. They weren’t worth much, but there were so many that they could still fetch dozens of yuan.

After hauling the net, Zhou Chenglei and Father Zhou steered the boat toward the beach from yesterday. Everyone rushed to sort the fish.

By the time they reached West Bay, a large stretch of the beach was exposed—not as much as yesterday, as the tide was still going out. But it was enough to begin.

Zhou Chenglei moored the boat and let everyone off first.

Jiang Xia stayed on the boat; she and Zhou Chenglei were going back to the reef island they had just spotted.

Chapter 420: Schools of Fish

Rocky Island was exactly as its name suggested—an island comprised primarily of reefs and jagged rocks.

From a distance, the entire area appeared as a sprawling stretch of rocky shoreline.

There was an isolated island positioned further out from the beach, looking like a giant prone upon the surface of the sea.

Jiang Xia could only spot a few patches of green vegetation at the island’s highest point—the very peak of the reefs; everything else was bare stone.

Jiang Xia lightly nudged the man beside her with her elbow and asked, “Doesn’t that little island look like a giant wearing a green hat?”

Zhou Chenglei: “…”

Given her imagination, Zhou Chenglei was actually starting to worry about her Gaokao essay.

Zhou Chenglei circled Rocky Island once, searching for a suitable place to moor. He didn’t bring the boat too close before securing it.

Jiang Xia looked at the exposed reefs and the ones submerged beneath the water; there were countless mussels suctioned onto the rocks.

He said to Jiang Xia, “I’m going into the water. If you’re tired, you can take a nap on the boat.”

Even setting aside the fact that it was the dead of winter, Jiang Xia’s current physical condition was not suitable for diving.

Jiang Xia nodded. “Alright.”

Sleeping was out of the question. How could she sleep soundly while he was out in the ocean alone? She had to keep an eye on his situation in the water from time to time.

She would just rest on the lounge chair, eat some fruit and snacks, and read a book to pass the time.

Zhou Chenglei warmed up, threw a large bundle of straw ropes onto the reef, then changed into his diving suit and jumped into the sea.

These straw ropes were used to collect mussel larvae.

Zhou Chenglei climbed onto the reef, took one end of a straw rope, found a protruding rock underwater, tied the rope to it, and then moved a heavy stone to pin it down.

Otherwise, under the constant scouring of the seawater, the straw rope would easily loosen and be washed away by the waves.

After securing one end, he held the rope and swam forward around the reef, encircling the rocks that were covered in mussels.

Every few meters, he would find a stone to weigh the rope down to prevent it from being swept away.

Once Zhou Chenglei had fixed one straw rope in place, he continued with another.

He had brought six straw ropes in total. By the time he had secured all of them, over an hour had passed. Then, he began harvesting the mussels.

Since he was already in the water, he might as well gather some to take home for a meal.

The mussels were packed tightly together, suctioned onto the rocks. No one had come to harvest them here, so they were densely clustered.

To save time, Zhou Chenglei used an iron shovel to scrape them into his mesh bags, piece by piece.

He didn’t bother picking up the ones that fell into the sea. He simply targeted the areas where the mussels were largest.

In no time at all, he had filled a large mesh bag.

He tied it to the rope Jiang Xia lowered from the boat so he could hoist it up directly once he returned to the deck. Then, he moved on to the next bag.

During a spring tide, the water recedes quickly and rises just as fast. Since they were in the middle of the sea, the tide came back even quicker.

By the time Zhou Chenglei had filled two mesh bags, the tide began to rise.

However, with Jiang Xia on the boat, Zhou Chenglei didn’t have to worry. He shoveled one more bag before climbing back on board.

After removing his diving gear and getting dressed, he hauled the several bags of mussels onto the boat.

Jiang Xia squatted down, looking through the three large mesh bags of mussels, and smiled. “They’re so plump. We’re in for a treat tonight.”

Zhou Chenglei replied, “I wonder if they’ll taste good.”

He had never eaten these things before.

Jiang Xia laughed. “They should be delicious.”

Of course, Jiang Xia personally felt that mussels weren’t as tasty as oysters. She thought mussels had a stronger fishy smell and weren’t as sweet as oysters, but the textures were different. Mussel meat was firmer, and fresh mussels were quite good regardless.

Furthermore, once dried, they became sun-dried mussels, which could be used in congee or soups to enhance the umami and aroma.

Zhou Chenglei went to start the engine. “You should sleep for a while. I’ll steer the boat.”

He could tell at a glance whether Jiang Xia had slept or not. He knew exactly what she looked like when she woke up. Her complexion would be more ruddy than before she slept, bearing a faint, tender pink hue. It was very beautiful.

“I’ll sleep later.” Jiang Xia was indeed tired, but she planned to wait until after Zhou Chenglei cast the nets.

Zhou Chenglei weighed anchor and steered the boat toward the beach where Father Zhou and the others were beachcombing, wanting to see if they had boarded their boats yet.

Since the other three boats were all beachcombing in that same area today, Zhou Chenglei didn’t need to worry about his parents not having a ride.

Knowing she was the type of person who would fall asleep the moment she relaxed and lay down, Jiang Xia didn’t sit in the lounge chair. She stood beside Zhou Chenglei, watching him steer.

Zhou Chenglei simply pulled her into his arms, letting her lean against him.

After the boat had traveled some distance, just as Zhou Chenglei was about to cast the net, Jiang Xia spotted countless seagulls circling over the distant sea.

She immediately pointed in that direction. Since she didn’t know the cardinal directions, pointing was the foolproof method!

“A school of fish!”

Wherever seagulls circled over the ocean, there was bound to be a school of fish.

“I’ll take the helm; you go cast the net.”

Zhou Chenglei looked over. It appeared the school of fish would move toward them with the tide.

He handed the controls to Jiang Xia and went to cast the net.

A trawl net wasn’t the best choice at this moment; a seine net would be ideal, but this boat wasn’t equipped for seine fishing. If two boats were together, they could have managed it.

Zhou Chenglei opted for a flow net. Once finished, he returned to steer.

Jiang Xia used binoculars to watch the fish being snatched up by the seagulls. “It looks like Golden Pomfret or Silver Pomfret.”

Zhou Chenglei took the binoculars and glanced through them. It was indeed one of the two.

They were still some distance away, giving Zhou Chenglei enough time to maneuver.

Jiang Xia watched as Zhou Chenglei steered the boat toward the flock of seagulls, making a wide circle to surround the area where the birds were flying.

Then, he cut the engine, giving the fish time to swim into the net.

Only when he saw most of the seagulls lingering in one spot did he start the fishing boat again and continue forward.

Zhou Chenglei said to Jiang Xia, “I’m going to use the winch. Just keep driving forward. Don’t go too fast; just maintain this slow speed. It takes time for the fish to get caught.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Xia sat in the pilot’s chair and took the helm.

Zhou Chenglei pulled the net up, hooked it onto the winch, and began hauling it in.

Because it wasn’t a trawl net, it wasn’t one massive bag of fish; instead, the net came up with individual Golden Pomfrets entangled throughout it.

This school of Golden Pomfret was quite plump, each fish weighing around 350 to 400 grams.

Since it was still early, Zhou Chenglei tried his best to untangle them one by one and toss them into the crates.

However, there were too many fish caught in the hanging net. He couldn’t possibly keep up, so he just did what he could, taking them off one by one.

The seagulls were relentless, diving down to snatch fish directly from the net. Some even had the audacity to steal fish straight out of the crates.

Had he known they would encounter a school of Golden Pomfret, he would have called his parents over; that would have made the work much faster.

Before long, the boats from the first branch, the second branch, and the rest of the family were drawn over by the flock of seagulls.

The three boats pulled up near Jiang Xia’s vessel.

Tian Caihua watched Zhou Chenglei operating the winch, seeing the Golden Pomfret hanging all over the net. Her eyes widened. “You’ve run into another school of fish?”

If she had known, she wouldn’t have gone beachcombing! Today on the beach, there were mostly octopuses and clams. There weren’t many octopuses, and while there were plenty of clams, they weren’t worth much money!

Seeing them encounter a school of Golden Pomfret, Li Qingmin’s wife couldn’t help but whisper to him, “Do you think those two did it on purpose? Leading us to the beach while they go out to catch Golden Pomfret for themselves?”

Chapter 421: You Are Different

Upon hearing this, Li’s father said, “What nonsense! They aren’t fortune tellers. How could they have known a school of Golden Pomfret would be there in advance? It was just good luck!”

“That’s not necessarily true! Maybe they have a secret way of baiting the schools, and they’re just staying away from us on purpose because they don’t want us to know.”

Deep down, Li Qingmin actually agreed with his wife. He had always suspected that Zhou Chenglei had some special method for luring fish. Otherwise, why would his catch be greater than everyone else’s every single time they went out to sea?

Li’s mother added, “I suspect there’s a secret as well. Look at how he didn’t want to take you out to sea at first—he wouldn’t even wait for a moment. Now, he’s late every day and tells you to go out on your own without waiting for him. He’s probably afraid you’ll learn his fishing techniques.”

Li’s father couldn’t speak to that.

However, he did know that different fish required different catching methods. Zhou Chenglei was knowledgeable and well-traveled, so it wasn’t impossible for him to know something others didn’t.

“Whether he has a method or not is his business. It’s only natural not to want outsiders to know.”

Li Qingmin’s wife pursed her lips, looking disdainful. “Wasn’t it said that Li Xiuxian’s brother-in-law is the most capable and loyal? That he’s helped his brothers so much over the years? Fine, we’re outsiders, so it’s okay if he doesn’t tell us! But what about Zhou Chengxin? What about my brother-in-law, Chengsen? They are his own brothers, yet I don’t see him sharing his fishing secrets with them, either! He only cares about making his own family rich. They’re so wealthy they’re practically dripping in gold!”

Li’s mother noted, “The first branch is doing alright. They were allocated a fishing boat and go out to sea together, splitting the profits fifty-fifty. They can earn quite a bit. Right now, your sister is the only one who’s poor. No wonder she’s anxious.”

Li Qingmin’s wife complained, “When they had the family division, Chengsen shouldn’t have said he didn’t want anything! Xiuxian shouldn’t have agreed, either. They should have at least gotten a share of the boat!”

Li Qingmin added, “Not taking the boat was a loss.”

Li’s father said crossly, “Enough. Our relatives by marriage already gave them a large sum of money to buy a house in town. Besides, Chengsen and Xiuxian both have jobs, whereas Chengxin and Chenglei don’t and have to rely on fishing to make a living. Right now, the couple’s jobs are respectable and stable; that’s good enough.”

“Furthermore, even if Chengsen had been given a share of the boat, he wouldn’t have time to go out fishing. How would the money be split then? Stop filling Xiuxian’s head with such things; it will only affect their relationship as husband and wife.”

Since Li’s father had put it that way, the three of them fell silent.

Li Qingmin’s wife thought to herself, Affect their relationship? Poverty is what affects a relationship! Haven’t you heard that ‘a poor couple finds everything difficult’?

On the other boat, Father Zhou was overjoyed to see his youngest son and daughter-in-law encounter another school of fish.

See! Just look at that!

Fortune really followed wherever Wealth-bringer went!

Earlier on the beach, he had only managed to gather a bucket of clams, half a bag of scallops, and about a dozen octopuses before the pickings went slim!

He didn’t want to stay on a boat without Wealth-bringer.

He said to Zhou Chengxin, “Pull closer to Chenglei’s boat. I’m going over to help sort the fish.”

Then he called out to Jiang Xia, “Xiao Xia, stop the boat for a moment so we can pull alongside!”

Jiang Xia complied and brought the boat to a halt.

Zhou Chengxin maneuvered his boat closer.

Father Zhou used a long-handled iron hook to pull the two vessels together. Mother Zhou supported Tian Caihua, while Great-Grandma and Second Great-Aunt stood up and hopped over to Jiang Xia’s boat.

Finally, Father Zhou helped Mother Zhou jump across before pulling in the pole and jumping over himself.

As soon as they arrived, they started working, plucking the fish one by one from the nets and tossing them into crates.

With so many people around, the seagulls didn’t dare get too close, save for a few exceptionally bold ones.

Seeing a seagull daring to steal a fish right under his nose, Father Zhou lunged for it. “You dare steal? If I catch you, I’ll take you home and turn you into stew!”

Of course, the seagulls were far too agile, and Father Zhou caught nothing but air.

It was already past three o’clock in the afternoon when the four fishing boats began their journey back.

The other three boats continued to tow their nets on the way back.

Jiang Xia’s boat was piled high with nets, so they didn’t trawl. They would be lucky if they could finish sorting all the fish before reaching the pier.

After five o’clock, the four boats returned to the village pier one after another.

Since tomorrow was Sunday, Li Xiuxian and Zhou Chengsen had returned from town.

Zhou Chengsen was waiting at the pier to help receive the catch.

Li Xiuxian wasn’t there; Chengsen had sent her home to cook.

When Chengsen had returned home and found that Mother Zhou and Jiang Xia were both out at sea, he had bought some seafood at the pier and sent her back to the old house to prepare dinner.

Li Xiuxian wasn’t happy about it, but she had no choice. She merely insisted that Chengsen invite her father and brother over for dinner as well.

As the boats docked, Zhou Chengsen first walked over to his parents’ boat to greet them, then to Zhou Chengxin’s boat, and finally to his own family’s boat to greet his father-in-law’s family.

His family’s boat was the last to dock.

Li’s father said with a smile, “There was a massive low tide today, so your mother and sister-in-law went beachcombing with the boats. Because everyone was busy beachcombing this afternoon, no one hit the trawl nets, so today’s catch is smaller. We only trawled twice in the morning and once on the way back.”

As he spoke, he began moving the fish off the boat.

Li’s mother added, “That’s right. Neither of your family’s boats trawled this afternoon. Only Chenglei’s boat was trawling.”

Zhou Chengsen didn’t mind. He chuckled and asked, “Did Mom and Big Sister-in-law find anything good today?”

Li Qingmin’s wife pointed to the clams in the bucket. “We only gathered a small bag of scallops, half a bucket of clams, and a few octopuses. They aren’t worth much if sold, and there isn’t even enough for one meal if cooked. Angling would have been better. Oh, by the way, this bucket is the fish Dad and Qingmin caught.”

Her tone was noticeably eager.

Zhou Chengsen looked down.

One bucket contained half a bucket of clams and a few octopuses. The other bucket contained two sea bass, a Spanish mackerel, two rabbitfish, and two yellowfin seabreams.

The largest Spanish mackerel weighed seven or eight kilograms and was worth about eight or nine yuan.

That one bucket of fish could be sold for about ten yuan.

Then he glanced at the crates of fish on the boat.

They were mostly miscellaneous fish of little value. There were a few more valuable Spanish mackerels, but they only weighed about one or one and a half kilograms each—not very large. There were also a few Golden Threadfin Breams and yellowfin seabreams.

The whole lot would probably sell for around thirty yuan. After deducting the labor for two people and the fuel costs, they would likely only net seven or eight yuan in profit, which was less than what they made from angling.

He smiled. “Big Brother’s luck is quite good to have caught such a large Spanish mackerel.”

Li Qingmin quickly said, “That’s only because Mom and your sister-in-law were both angling today. Usually, it’s just me, and I don’t have such good luck.”

Zhou Chengsen nodded. “That’s normal. Whether angling or trawling, it’s all down to luck. It fluctuates.”

Li Qingmin forced a smile. “Isn’t that the truth! It’s all luck! The trawling was better yesterday; we made over twenty yuan. Today, because we didn’t trawl in the afternoon, and because Chenglei went out more than half an hour late this morning, we had to wait for him, so we were delayed!”

Zhou Chengsen laughed. “Is that so? Then don’t wait for him next time. Just head out at exactly five o’clock every morning! You and my fourth brother are different. He’s sailing his own boat, so he can head out whenever he pleases. His schedule is more flexible than yours.”

Li Qingmin: “…”

Was that a snide remark about him being nothing more than a hired hand?

Chapter 422: Unbelievable

The worst thing a person can do is fail to recognize their own place and status.

One should act according to their position.

Zhou Chengsen threw a few sharp remarks at Li Qingmin before heading over to Zhou Chenglei’s fishing boat to help unload the catch.

Crate after crate of Golden Pomfret was carried off the boat. It was another day that left everyone else green with envy and resentment.

While Golden Pomfret wasn’t as expensive as Silver Pomfret, with this much volume, even at a lower price, it would still fetch a massive sum of money!

Besides, with the end of the year approaching, drying them into fish jerky would make them a highly sought-after commodity.

Jiang Xia was about to head down the boat to line up at the purchase station when she saw Zhou Chengsen come aboard. She greeted him with a smile, “Second Brother.”

Zhou Chengsen smiled and nodded in response, then asked Zhou Chenglei, “Are you drying all these Golden Pomfret into jerky, or selling them directly?”

In previous years, his fourth brother would always give away quite a lot of dried fish. He didn’t know if he still planned to do so this year.

Zhou Chenglei replied, “Drying them.”

Since it was the end of the year, he needed to give gifts to many people. Overly expensive gifts weren’t appropriate, but local specialties showed heart. Being from a fishing village, dried fish was their signature local product.

Mother Zhou added, “Then I’ll go find some people to help clean the fish.”

Zhou Chenglei turned to Father Zhou. “Dad, why don’t you go back and drive the tractor over?”

“Alright, I’ll go.” Father Zhou moved one last crate of fish off the boat and headed back to get the tractor.

Li Xiuxian had already finished cooking at the old house. Seeing Father Zhou return to get the tractor, she left the food warming in the pot and hopped onto the tractor to head to the pier.

She wanted to see if today’s catch was substantial.

Upon arrival, she immediately spotted Zhou Chengsen on Zhou Chenglei’s boat, hauling fish.

Her heart stifled.

Was there no work for him to do on their own family’s boat?

She trudged through the sand, her footsteps uneven, toward their boat. She crossed paths with Zhou Chengsen as he was carrying a crate of fish down. Suppressing her anger, she asked, “Is all the fish from our boat sold already?”

Zhou Chengsen replied, “Not yet, I think. Dad and Big Brother are still unloading.”

Li Xiuxian snapped, “Then what are you doing over here?”

It was truly infuriating!

Was there really no work at home? Why was he so eager to help others with theirs?

Zhou Chengsen said, “Our boat didn’t have much of a catch today. If I did all the unloading, what would they have to do?”

Li Xiuxian: “…”

Zhou Chengsen set the fish on the ground and immediately turned back to the boat to continue hauling.

With a daily wage of five yuan per person, they were paying out ten yuan every day. Was ten yuan that easy to earn?

That was why he hadn’t helped unload his own boat—he had rushed over to help his brother instead.

Big Brother had hired plenty of people, and their catch wasn’t that large, so they didn’t need help. Only A-Lei, with a boat full of fish, truly needed the extra hands.

Moreover, if he didn’t help A-Lei, his parents would have to do more work. He wasn’t just helping his brother; he was helping his parents.

Li Xiuxian watched him return to the boat and lift another crate. she felt like she would have a heart attack sooner or later.

She couldn’t bear to watch.

She walked toward her own boat.

Li’s father and Li Qingmin had already moved all the fish off and were planning to carry them to the purchase station.

Li Xiuxian was about to climb onto her boat. “How much fish is left on board?”

Li Qingmin answered, “None! That’s it!”

Li Xiuxian looked at the few loads of fish on the ground in disbelief. “That’s it?”

Forget comparing it to the fourth branch! These few crates weren’t even half of what the first branch’s boat had brought in!

Li Qingmin explained, “Yeah! We only threw the trawl net three times today, so the catch isn’t much.”

Li’s father added, “The three families went beachcombing together this afternoon, so we didn’t trawl. We only trawled for an hour on the way back. The time was too short, so that haul didn’t have much.”

Li Qingmin grumbled, “It wasn’t like all three families went beachcombing together. A-Lei and his wife didn’t join us! They went trawling instead, which is how they got so much Golden Pomfret.”

Li Xiuxian said crossly, “Zhou Chenglei and his wife knew to go trawling, so why didn’t you? What can you even find beachcombing!”

Li Qingmin replied, “Everyone agreed to go beachcombing together. Who knew that once we reached the spot, only the in-laws got off the boat while they took their own boat out to trawl!”

Li’s father interjected, “Alright! Stop talking! Your mother is waiting in line at the purchase station. Hurry up and carry the fish over! It’s almost our turn!”

Li Xiuxian glanced over and saw that they were indeed almost at the front. “Mom went out to sea today too?”

Li’s father picked up a load of fish and started walking. “Yes, your mother and your sister-in-law went out to go beachcombing today as well.”

Li Xiuxian picked up the smallest load and followed them.

When they reached the purchase station, the family sold the fish.

Li Xiuxian looked at her mother and sister-in-law holding 11.87 yuan, and then at the 29.40 yuan in her own hand. She was stunned.

Out of her 29.40 yuan, ten yuan was for her father and brother’s wages, and that was even before factoring in the cost of fuel!

“How much did we spend on fuel today?”

Li Qingmin answered, “We topped up fifteen yuan today. We went near the mangroves to the west today, which is further away, so we added a bit more. There should still be quite a bit of fuel left.”

In truth, they had only added fourteen yuan worth, but since he claimed it was a yuan or two more, who would know? Even if she did know, would his sister really nitpick with him over it?

Li Xiuxian counted out twenty-six yuan and handed it to Li Qingmin. She was left with only a little over three yuan!

It was simply unbelievable!

Her father and brother were making more than the boat owners?

Seeing her daughter’s dark expression, Li’s mother smiled and said, “Today, your father, your brother, your sister-in-law, and I went beachcombing together. We picked up a lot of scallops, sea snails, and octopus, and sold them for over ten yuan! Plus, your brother had good luck today and caught a large Spanish Mackerel. We made over twenty yuan in a single day—we wouldn’t have dared to even dream of that before!”

“You’re the filial one, knowing how to take care of your family. You gave your father and brother high wages and even let them keep the money from the fish they caught themselves. Unlike your second sister, that heartless girl, who gives your father and me five yuan a month like it’s some grand act of charity!”

Li Xiuxian was in no mood for this and couldn’t listen to any more. She said directly to Li Qingmin, “Brother, I don’t object to you taking Mom and Sister-in-law out beachcombing, but don’t skip the trawling because of it. I didn’t buy this boat just to go beachcombing! Look at Jiang Xia and her husband; they knew to let my father-in-law and mother-in-law go beachcombing while they went to trawl themselves. If you want to go beachcombing, it’s not like you can’t do it on the beach in the village.”

Li Qingmin was a bit displeased upon hearing this. “It was your father-in-law, your brother-in-law, and the oldest brother who all said we were going beachcombing today. That’s why we went!”

Li Xiuxian was about to say something else when Li’s father quickly cut in, “You’re right. We won’t delay the trawling for beachcombing next time. Yesterday’s income was good, and Mother Zhou is holding onto that money.”

There were people all around them, and Li Xiuxian didn’t want to start a public scene; she couldn’t afford the embarrassment. “I’m going to see if my brother-in-law needs help.”

With that, she walked away.

She didn’t even invite her own family over for dinner!

She was too furious! Her chest actually ached from the anger.

She looked toward Jiang Xia, who was selling fish not far away, and walked toward her.

Jiang Xia and Great-Grandma were chatting and laughing with the purchase station staff about something.

Next to her feet were crate after crate of fish. While others had to lug their fish to the large scales at the front of the station, the staff had brought the scales directly to Jiang Xia to weigh her catch.

Having helpful in-laws really made a difference. Seeing how her in-laws supported her, wasn’t Jiang Xia living a comfortable life?

Her mother-in-law took care of three or four meals a day at home, while her father-in-law helped them with distant seas voyages, trawling, and beachcombing.

Whether it was big money or small change, those two were helping the couple earn every bit of it!

Li Xiuxian now regretted agreeing to let her brother keep the money from the fish he caught.

Her whole family had spent the entire afternoon beachcombing, only caring about their own pockets, with no regard for whether she lived or died!

Chapter 423: A Daughter’s Status Rises with Her Father’s

Jiang Xia and Great-Grandma were currently haggling with the staff at the purchase station. Because they had two crates filled with all sorts of miscellaneous fish they hadn’t bothered to sort, pricing them was proving difficult.

It was mostly Great-Grandma doing the shouting, while Jiang Xia stood by with a smile, watching the show.

Great-Grandma poked through the fish in the crates with her hand while shouting her price, “Five yuan and eighty cents!”

Master Jin countered, “Five yuan and seventy cents!”

“Why are you offering less and less?” Great-Grandma barked. “Five yuan and ninety cents—are you taking them or not? If not, forget it!”

If they weren’t still busy frying those 1,000 to 1,500 kilograms of anchovies, she would have taken these home to dry and turn into spicy mixed dried fish herself!

Master Jin sighed. “And you’re asking for more and more! Fine, fine, five eighty it is. Five eighty for both crates. Deal? If not, forget it! I’m tired of talking!”

Jiang Xia interjected, “That won’t do. This crate is clearly several kilograms heavier. Let’s make it twelve yuan for the two crates combined. How about it? Look, my family brings you hundreds or even 500 kilograms of fish every day. Most of the time, my husband doesn’t even haggle; he just takes whatever price you offer, right?”

“Fine, fine, fine. Have those Groupers you’re raising grown big enough? Can they be sold by New Year’s Eve? Remember to bring them here to the purchase station when the time comes. Don’t go sneakily sending them off to the City Pier.”

The Zhou family had been buying precious fish like Grouper and Genuine Porgy from the villagers to raise in net cages for a long time now. After all these months, they likely had several hundred of them.

These fish sold incredibly well on New Year’s Eve. Sometimes the price could double or even triple. Moreover, demand far stripped supply. Many people were pulling strings and using connections just to reserve a good fish for their New Year’s reunion dinner.

At a time like that, one wasn’t just selling fish; one was trading in social favors.

Jiang Xia smiled and said, “Since Master Jin has spoken, just tell my husband how many you need when the time comes. I’ll see if I can set a few aside for you. Two restaurants in the city have already placed orders.”

Master Jin was speechless. Even city restaurants had pre-ordered?

Master Jin pulled out a stack of cash to settle the account with Jiang Xia. It came to a total of 265 yuan, 67 fen.

They had only hauled in two nets this morning. The first net fetched a great price because of a large Greater Amberjack and 100 kilograms of small yellow croaker. The second net consisted mostly of leatherjackets, which weren’t worth much, but the sheer volume brought in over seventy yuan.

They weren’t selling the Golden Pomfret or the mussels. Nor were they selling the scallops, octopuses, and various sea snails Father and Mother Zhou had found while beachcombing. Thus, making over two hundred yuan was already a significant amount.

Jiang Xia said, “Master Jin, let’s just round it up to 266 yuan. Consider those thirty-three cents a treat for Great-Grandma and me to buy some candy.”

Master Jin agreed readily, “Fine! Just remember to bring the good fish to me!”

Master Jin, who was usually a stingy man who wouldn’t part with even half a cent, handed Jiang Xia 266 yuan.

Great-Grandma only kept about eight or ten small scallops and about 0.5 to 1 kg of the smallest sea snails. She had given all the octopuses she found to Mother Zhou, and she sold the large scallops and sea snails for 8 yuan and 32 fen.

Master Jin said, “I’ll round that one for you too—eight yuan and thirty cents!”

Great-Grandma cursed with a chuckle, “Bullshit! What ‘round up and down’? With me, you only round up! Pay up! I want every single cent!”

Li Xiuxian had walked over intending to ask Jiang Xia something, but she overheard Master Jin—who was usually so arrogant—speaking so amicably to Jiang Xia. Usually, when she ran into Master Jin and greeted him, he wouldn’t even acknowledge her.

Because of her father, Jiang Xia was respected wherever she went. A daughter’s status really did rise with her father’s! In the future, her Yingying would be just like Jiang Xia.

Watching Master Jin count out a large stack of “Great Unity” ten-yuan bills for Jiang Xia made her feel even more bitter. They all went out to sea together, yet what she earned wasn’t even a fraction of Jiang Xia’s! Even Jiang Xia’s “loose change” from the rounding was over five yuan!

However, hearing that Great-Grandma had earned over eight yuan just from beachcombing made her slightly less suspicious of her own family. If Great-Grandma could make over eight yuan alone, then it was normal for the four of them working together to make ten or twenty.

Li Xiuxian approached Jiang Xia and smiled. “Xiao Xia, finished selling the fish? I’ve finished cooking dinner, we can head back to eat.”

Jiang Xia greeted her and then looked toward where their boat and tractor were parked. Zhou Chenglei and the others had already loaded all the Golden Pomfret onto the tractor. She said, “Alright, let’s head back. Great-Grandma, you should take the tractor back too!”

“Fine, I’m too lazy to walk.” It would take over ten minutes to walk back from the pier.

With Great-Grandma around, Li Xiuxian found it hard to ask her questions. After all, domestic scandals were not to be aired in public.

Zhou Chenglei came over to pick up Jiang Xia and drove her away on the motorcycle.

Dinner had been prepared by Li Xiuxian, and Jiang Xia realized that her sister-in-law’s cooking was… quite an experience. Seafood was supposed to be delicious even when simply poached, but she managed to boil the shrimp until they were tasteless and lacked any freshness.

The steamed fish was also poor—too salty, and the meat wasn’t tender; it was overcooked and tough. The other dishes were also far too salty.

After a few bites, Jiang Xia couldn’t help but drink a large glass of water.

Fortunately, when Zhou Chenglei returned, he steamed some scallops and poached some clams and spicy snails. Everyone scrambled for those, but there wasn’t quite enough. Aside from the poached shrimp, almost no one touched the dishes Li Xiuxian had made.

Li Xiuxian didn’t eat her own cooking either, focusing instead on the dishes Zhou Chenglei had prepared.

After dinner, the people Mother Zhou had hired arrived to clean the fish. The cleaning was done at the old house.

Zhou Chenglei told Jiang Xia to take Zhou Zhou back to the new house first to bathe and sleep. He stayed behind to help clean the fish.

Li Xiuxian immediately said, “I’ll take Yingying back for a bath too. The weather is cold, I need to help her so she doesn’t catch a chill.”

Zhou Chengsen countered, “Just let Yingying follow Xiao Xia over there. You stay here with me and help clean the fish!”

Li Xiuxian was speechless.

Zhou Chengsen then said to Jiang Xia, “Xiao Xia, take Yingying with you. She can bathe herself.”

Jiang Xia replied, “Alright.” She then called Zhou Zhou and Zhou Ying to head back to the new house for their baths and bed.

By the time Mother Zhou and the others finished cleaning the fish, it was already nine o’clock. Mother Zhou and Zhou Chenglei planned to clean up the courtyard before heading back to the new house.

Zhou Chengsen said to them, “Mom, Fourth Brother, you go back and get some sleep. I’ll handle the cleaning here. The two of us will just stay here tonight. Our old bedding is still here anyway, so there’s no need to move things back and forth.”

Li Xiuxian froze. Stay at the old house? Was the new house not comfortable enough? It was such a hassle to use the bathroom here in the middle of the night!

Zhou Chenglei added, “Xiao Xia has already prepared the beds and blankets in your room; they’re all clean. You can just go over and sleep without moving anything. Bathing isn’t as convenient here as it is over there.”

Zhou Chengsen waved a hand. “Sleeping anywhere is the same. I’ve already boiled a pot of hot water, so it’s not inconvenient. You guys go on back. Your second sister-in-law can bathe first, and I’ll finish up the cleaning.”

“Alright.” Zhou Chenglei didn’t press further and left the courtyard to him.

The food tonight had been too salty, and Jiang Xia likely hadn’t eaten her fill. He wanted to go back and make her some eggs steamed with milk and a bowl of seafood noodle soup.

Li Xiuxian blurted out, “I’m going to find Xiao Xia to ask her something!” She then followed Zhou Chenglei and Mother Zhou back to the new house.

When Li Xiuxian reached the second floor, Jiang Xia had just come out after her bath.

Earlier, Jiang Xia had been worried about Zhou Ying, fearing the girl might stay in the bath too long, catch a cold, or suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning. Flueless gas water heaters had that drawback, even though she had made Zhou Chenglei install it outside the bathroom. In winter, if one bathed for too long, oxygen deprivation from the steam and fumes was a frequent occurrence.

Jiang Xia asked while drying her hair with a towel, “Second Sister-in-law, what did you want to see me about?”

UNTITLED

Chapter 301: Jiang Xia is the Formidable One

Chapter 302: Factory Director Feng Was Beaming with Pride

Chapter 303: A Rebellious Streak
Chapter 304: Scared Away
Chapter 305: Brother-in-Law Is No Help

Chapter 306: She Certainly Has an Eye for Quality

Chapter 307: Why is This Girl So Capable?

Chapter 308: Isn’t This Just Sending Money to Jiang Xia?

Chapter 309: Reduced to an Errand Girl
Chapter 310: I Want to Vomit
Chapter 311: Ye Fu
Chapter 312: Ye Xian Has Come
Chapter 313: Unconscious
Chapter 314: The Dream
Chapter 315: Playboy?
Chapter 316: Do You Know This Person?
Chapter 317: Ruthless Tactics
Chapter 318: Blocking the Way
Chapter 319: How Much Was Earned?
Chapter 320: Going Home
Chapter 321: Unfairness

Chapter 322: Quietly Eating, Watching the Show

Chapter 323: Her Neurosis Acts Up Again
Chapter 324: Peeking
Chapter 325: Teaming Up to Bully Her
Chapter 326: Everyone Wants to Go
Chapter 327: I Can’t Bear to Look!

Chapter 328: The New House Layout Was a Miscalculation

Chapter 329: Land
Chapter 330: A Little Expensive
Chapter 331: More Than One Child?
Chapter 332: That Kid Zhou Chenglei Is Lucky
Chapter 333: Buying Floor Tiles

Chapter 334: Is Showing Off a Zhou Family Trait?

Chapter 335: Oh No, How Do I Handle This?
Chapter 336: Starting a Fight
Chapter 337: First Come, First Served

Chapter 338: In That Case, I’ll Even Call You a Hero!

Chapter 339: Heading Out to Sea
Chapter 340: The Benefits of Octopus
Chapter 341: Just Kidding
Chapter 342: He Will Keep Trying
Chapter 343: Borrowing Money

Chapter 344: Sure Enough, Rich People are Especially Stingy!

Chapter 345: A Way to Make Money
Chapter 346: Breakfast
Chapter 347: Showing Off

Chapter 348: The Feeling of Becoming Overnight Wealthy

Chapter 349: Leaving the Best for Jiang Xia
Chapter 350: Commendation Ceremony
Chapter 351: Buying Furniture
Chapter 352: Can We Make a Swap?
Chapter 353: It’s Good to Have Money!
Chapter 354: The Ideal Life
Chapter 355: Two Old Ships
Chapter 356: Parroting?

Chapter 357: Which Boat is the Wealth-bringer?

Chapter 358: She Has All the Good Luck
Chapter 359: Skepticism
Chapter 360: Overstepping
Chapter 361: Not Waiting Any Longer
Chapter 362: Starting with the King of Fish
Chapter 363: The Snipe and the Clam Struggle
Chapter 364: Breaking Even
Chapter 365: Ancestors
Chapter 366: Blessed Words
Chapter 367: It’s All Money
Chapter 368: Making a Fortune Daily
Chapter 369: Never Visits Without a Reason
Chapter 370: Kicking Someone Out
Chapter 371: Wanting a Son
Chapter 372: No Time
Chapter 373: Eating Meat, Drinking Soup
Chapter 374: Sincerity Moves Metal and Stone
Chapter 375: The Best Choice
Chapter 376: A Visit

Chapter 377: Jiang Xia Was Good at Bossing People Around

Chapter 378: Hatching Chicks
Chapter 379: Rice Dumplings
Chapter 380: Is He Trying to Force a Sale?
Chapter 381: Materials
Chapter 382: Call an Ambulance
Chapter 383: Confirmed
Chapter 384: Opportunity

Chapter 385: No Good Deed Without an Ulterior Motive

Chapter 386: Fever
Chapter 387: Mumps
Chapter 388: Isn’t Money Better?
Chapter 389: Is It Really This Profitable?
Chapter 390: The Motorcade Enters the Village
Chapter 391: Such Bad Luck
Chapter 392: My Sister-in-law is Available
Chapter 393: Jiang Xia is the Lucky One
Chapter 394: How Could He Have the Nerve?
Chapter 395: Aunt Fen
Chapter 396: Unity is Strength
Chapter 397: Queuing Up
Chapter 398: Father’s Love is Like a Mountain
Chapter 399: The Return
Chapter 400: The Gathering
Chapter 401: Something Seems a Bit Off
Chapter 402: Interest
Chapter 403: Moving to the New House
Chapter 404: The Wedding Gift
Chapter 405: Gifts (Part 2)
Chapter 406: Had a Change of Heart?
Chapter 407: Why Are You Here, Sir?
Chapter 408: A Heavy Gift
Chapter 409: On Purpose
Chapter 410: Setting Sail
Chapter 411: The Great Ebbing Tide
Chapter 412: The Boat is Broken?

Chapter 413: Today’s Joy is Brought by Beachcombing

Chapter 414: A Strange Smell
Chapter 415: The Great Log
Chapter 416: Foreign Species
Chapter 417: Money
Chapter 418: Transferring Schools
Chapter 419: The Reef Island
Chapter 420: Schools of Fish
Chapter 421: You Are Different
Chapter 422: Unbelievable

Chapter 423: A Daughter’s Status Rises with Her Father’s