Chapter 99: Da Yizi's Panic

In Xu Yuexin's words, there is something new hidden.

Du Runsheng realized this and began to think over what Xu Yuexin had said.

His plan, essentially, clarifies property rights without physically dividing the Collective Assets.

Physical division easily sparks member disputes. This plan can, on the basis of eliminating disputes, avoid the "tragedy of the commons."

If it can be implemented, the output of orchards and forests will rise, and the operational difficulties of the grassroots Agricultural Technology Station will be resolved.

Most importantly, the property and income of rural members will inevitably increase dramatically, which is precisely the original intent of current rural reform.

If it can be promoted widely…

Du Runsheng nodded, feeling as if he had discovered a treasure.

"Xiao Xu's line of thought is quite good."

Du Runsheng concisely affirmed, "It can be highlighted in the research report."

"Hmm, I also think this is the best solution."

Yi Gang added.

"Um, thank you, Elder Du and classmate Yi, for the praise."

Xu Yuexin scratched his head, smiled, and said, "But… may I ask Elder Du if you could call me Xiao Xu?"

The name Xiao Xin would remind Xu Yuexin of 'Crayon Shin‑chan,' which always feels odd.

"Alright. Xiao Xu, from now on you can think about how to write the research report."

Du Runsheng, going along willingly, said with a bright smile.

Yi Gang, Tu Guangzhao and others cast envious glances at Xu Yuexin.

Being the chief author of the squad's research report is such an honor.

"Hmm, I will write the report carefully."

Xu Yuexin looked at Elder Du, Yi Gang, Tu Guangzhao and others and said, "Later I'll still need to consult each of you more."

"Alright, if you have questions, come to the National Agricultural Commission to find me."

Elder Du said.

The next day, the research squad left Niuji Squad and returned to Jingcheng.

Passing by the Communist, Xu Yuexin specifically went to find Chen Yixue for his reply Telegram.

Originally he had planned to spare some time to come to the Communist to see the Telegram, but he didn't expect the research schedule to be so tight that there wasn't even an hour or two free.

After a few minutes of searching, the clerk retrieved a Telegram from the accumulated old messages and handed it to Xu Yuexin.

Sure enough, it was Chen Yixue's reply.

"I am fine in Jingcheng; I look forward to you and Qiao Qiao returning."

Reading that line, Xu Yuexin smiled inwardly.

At that moment, his heart raced homeward! After the research squad arrived at the local committee, it merged with other teams and headed to the railway station.

After Xu Yuexin obtained his ticket at the railway station, he sent a Telegram to Chen Yixue, informing her of his and Chen Qiaoqiao's arrival time in Jing.

Soon the train they were taking arrived; Xu Yuexin and Chen Qiaoqiao entered the platform and boarded the train.

……

Clang—

Clang—.

After a two‑day, two‑night journey, Xu Yuexin arrived at Jicheng Railway Station, carrying his and his wife's luggage toward the carriage door.

Just as he reached the carriage entrance, he saw Da Yizi, dressed in a pure white Coat, waiting for him on the platform.

"Yixue."

"Sister! Are you cold?"

Chen Qiaoqiao ran to her sister, took her hand and asked with concern.

"Not cold; this Coat keeps me warm."

Chen Yixue, feeling Chen Qiaoqiao's clothing, said, "What about you and Xu Yuexin, aren't you dressed a bit lightly?"

"We're fine."

Xu Yuexin smiled.

Seeing Da Yizi's appearance today, he felt very gratified.

Compared with before, Da Yizi's condition had clearly improved, returning to the once steadfast, confident ice‑queen beauty.

"Give me that bag."

Chen Yixue saw that Xu Yuexin was holding a lot of luggage and wanted to proactively lessen his burden.

"No need, it's nothing."

Xu Yuexin said, and together with his wife and Da Yizi, went down the stairs toward the exit.

On the way back by car, Chen Yixue told him some news.

"While you were away, a woman named Zhu Chen and her parents came to see you, saying it was to thank you for saving their lives."

"I invited them in to sit for a while."

The Daughter Kingdom King and her family ultimately still came.

Xu Yuexin thought.

After this, he and the Daughter Kingdom King have established a solid connection.

How things develop thereafter depends entirely on his own ability.

After returning home by car, Xu Yuexin, Chen Qiaoqiao and Chen Yixue together put away the clothes, blankets, etc., from the luggage, then took out several specialties from the Huizhou region.

"Huangshan Maofeng Tea, one of the nation's top ten teas; it's good for a woman's skin."

"There are also tea biscuits, bamboo shoots, and Huangshan stone ear."

Xu Yuexin said to Chen Yixue, placing a single wrapped parcel on the table, "They're all for you."

"All the way from a thousand miles, you still think of me."

Chen Yixue said a little embarrassed, "Next time, don't bring anything."

"He's willing to buy; why are you stopping him?"

Chen Qiaoqiao looped her arm around Chen Yixue, making her even more embarrassed.

"Hmm… I have something to tell you."

Chen Yixue looked at Xu Yuexin and said, "The smell in my house has almost dissipated."

"I plan to move in tomorrow."

"Alright, let Brother Xin take you."

"I'll go buy groceries, and we'll have a meal together at the new place."

Chen Qiaoqiao expressed happiness for her sister.

…

The next morning, Xu Yuexin rode a motorcycle to take Chen Yixue to Tuanjie Lake.

"Congratulations on the housewarming; may you prosper ever after."

On the motorcycle, Xu Yuexin smiled and congratulated Chen Yixue.

"I couldn't have done it without your help."

Chen Yixue, hugging Xu Yuexin from behind, said with a faint happiness in her tone, "On the property deed I wrote both my name and Qiao Qiao's."

"Oh? That's quite conscientious."

"But why didn't you write my name and yours?"

After saying that, Xu Yuexin, with interest, observed the expression of the elder sister‑in‑law in the rearview mirror.

"Here we go again."

Chen Yixue lightly patted him and asked, "When will you stop being so sharp‑tongued?"

"Your guess."

Upon saying that, Xu Yuexin accelerated, and the elder sister‑in‑law behind him quickly held him tighter.

When the two arrived at the new home, Chen Qiaoqiao had not yet arrived.

Xu Yuexin helped the elder sister‑in‑law carry the luggage upstairs, and after finishing, he took her hand.

"You now have the best living conditions among us."

"An average of 80 square meters per person."

"It really is."

"You wait a moment; I'll turn on the heater."

The elder sister‑in‑law blushed, but instead of pulling her hand away as she usually does, she found an excuse to leave.

Soon, warm breezes filled the room, making everyone feel extremely comfortable.

Chen Yixue took off her coat on the sofa, revealing a perfect figure wrapped tightly in a white turtleneck sweater.

Xu Yuexin sat beside the elder sister‑in‑law, draped an arm over her shoulder, and grasped one of her hands.

"That outfit looks really good."

Xu Yuexin always thought that whenever the elder sister‑in‑law wore such a tight turtleneck sweater, she exuded a distinct femininity.

"Truly enchanting."

Chen Yixue's face flushed, and she said helplessly, "Can't you just be wholeheartedly with Qiao Qiao?"

"You don't understand; I spend more time on you, so I spend less on other women."

"Other women might break up my and Qiao Qiao's family, which you wouldn't do."

"So, essentially, being with you benefits the happiness and stability of my and Qiao Qiao's family."

… Chen Yixue was once again speechless before Xu Yuexin's theory.

Xu Yuexin didn't think he was being sophistical.

In ancient times, there were practices where sisters married the same husband, and the ancients based it on exactly such considerations.

"Hmm, I'm a classicist."

"Of course, only when the classical method benefits me."

Soon, a knock came from outside—Chen Qiaoqiao.

Chen Yixue hurriedly broke free from Xu Yuexin's embrace and went to open the door.

…

That night, after finishing the moving meal with the elder sister‑in‑law, Xu Yuexin returned to Keyuan Community together with Chen Qiaoqiao.

"How's your research report coming along?"

On the way, Chen Qiaoqiao asked with a hint of worry.

"A few major drafts are ready; I wrote a bit at home last night."

"What about you? I recall your team's research focus is rural social governance?"

"Hmm. The preliminary research was quite serious, but we got stuck on future predictions. In the past two years, societal changes have been so great that no one dares to easily predict the future direction of rural development."

"Could you foretell for us?"

Chen Qiaoqiao asked with full confidence.

In her eyes, her own husband is a Contemporary divine computing element, the kind who says whatever he wants.

"Actually, think about it: now everything is Contracting Production to Households, and rural labor has been liberated. Going to the city for work will inevitably become a major trend."

"Accordingly, the focus of rural social governance will shift to caring for the left‑behind population and attracting talent to return home to start businesses. If you base your writing on these two points, it should stand out."

Xu Yuexin said slowly and deliberately.

Qiao Qiao's eyes brightened as she listened.

Her own husband truly lives up to being the city's top liberal‑arts scholar; he's incredibly learned and versatile.

In just a few words, she solved the problem that had troubled her squad for a long time.

"You are absolutely right. The economic base determines social existence; our squad should incorporate economic development and study and assess future changes in rural society."

Qiao Qiao said earnestly.

"That's the principle; I'll tell you the specifics when we get home."

"Okay, okay, you focus on driving."

In the night, Xu Yuexin floored the accelerator and drove toward home.

…

The New Year is approaching, and every household is busy preparing New Year provisions.

Xu Yuexin took on the family's entire procurement duty, handling both food and drink as well as the couplets that hang on the wall.

The most important item among the provisions is ribbon fish.

Ribbon fish is a scarce commodity; from senior officials to ordinary citizens each person is limited to one jin. This restriction wasn't lifted until the mid‑1980s, much later than pork.

Xu Yuexin firmly held the family's supplemental food ledger and went to the Chaonei vegetable market to buy ribbon fish.

Qiao Qiao married into the Xu Family, adding an extra jin of ribbon fish to the quota for everyone.

Together with their sister Xu Yanran, who came of age last year, and the older brother and sister‑in‑law spending the New Year at their home, the Xu Family's quota reached its peak at seven jin.

Of course, the seven‑jin quota is theoretical; it still depends on whether the market has any stock.

Whenever the vendor at the stall shouted that they're sold out, sighs and curses filled the area.

In such cases, even money or connections are useless; you just wait to line up again tomorrow. To get ribbon fish, Xu Yuexin got up early, riding his motorcycle to the market at five o'clock.

When he arrived, he was stunned.

A long queue had already formed in front of the ribbon‑fish stall, stretching beyond sight.

It's five o'clock on a bitter winter morning! "Fine, you're ruthless."

Xu Yuexin truly experienced the era's queuing culture and couldn't help but remark.

He parked his motorcycle and honestly joined the tail of the line.

Xu Yuexin slipped his hands into his pockets, hoping the fish vendor wouldn't be late.

Looking at the line, he finally understood why his parents set aside a specific time for him to buy ribbon fish.

If he had come later, he'd have to wait until the afternoon.

Xu Yuexin and everyone waited together, and finally at eight in the morning the small three‑wheeled cart delivering ribbon fish arrived.

A moment later, the line began to move.

The crowd ahead was bustling, and fortunately the vendor's selling speed was fairly quick, so the line could advance a bit after a while.

When it was almost his turn, he glanced back.

Sheesh, good thing I came early.

The queue behind would have to stretch at least to Xiehe Yiyuan.

Behind the cutting board, the vendor sliced the ribbon fish with swift hands but a very impatient attitude.

He cuts whatever it is; no picking, you can buy or not as you wish.

When it was Xu Yuexin's turn, he handed the supplemental food ledger to the vendor, praying for a few extra good pieces.

The vendor's eyes lit up the moment he saw the ledger.

"Great writer, 'The Flower Wreath Under High Mountain' was written by you, right?"

"I've seen you in the People's Daily."

Before the words finished, he returned the ledger to Xu Yuexin and, with a swish, chopped a bunch of the best ribbon‑fish pieces from the board, tossing them onto the scale.

Seven jin and three liang!

"Take them and go."

The vendor, smiling, handed the ribbon fish to Xu Yuexin and said.

The three‑wheeled cart's ribbon fish had a surplus of five jin; an extra three liang is no big deal.

"Thanks, vendor!"

Xu Yuexin took the fish and hurried away.

It wasn't that he feared other customers' complaints; rather, someone at the back had already taken notice of his identity, and he worried they'd stop him later to ask for a signature.

He rode his motorcycle home.

After arriving home, Xu Yuexin placed the ribbon fish on the table and looked at his mother, who was busy in the kitchen, saying, "Mom, the ribbon fish is bought—seven jin three liang."

"You gave me an extra three liang?"

Wu Yan, delighted, set down the dishcloth, turned back with a bright smile and said.

"That's for sure."

Xu Yuexin laughed, "Dad, when will you return from Kuangshang?"

"This afternoon."

"Kuangshang closed its payroll the day before yesterday; their leaders told them to stay two more days."

After finishing the conversation with his mother, Xu Yuexin returned to his bedroom to continue writing the research report.

Du Runsheng set the deadline for the fifteenth day of the New Year, and he is almost finished.

In this way, Old Du will have more time to revise and achieve perfection.

Xu Yuexin carefully chooses each word before putting pen to paper, ensuring no character is superfluous while covering every aspect.

He knows in his heart that this report will change many people's lives.

The final 300 words of the report took Xu Yuexin a full two hours to finish.

When he set down his pen after reviewing, his mother had already prepared lunch.

Xu Yuexin returned to the living room, and at that moment a knock came from outside.

"Lao Wu, open the door."

It was his father's voice.

"I'm here, Dad."

Xu Yuexin stepped forward to open the door and saw his father, dust‑covered and weary, standing in the doorway.

It was obvious that his father had lost a great deal of weight over the past six months.

"Dad, you came just in time for lunch."

Xu Yuexin felt a pang in his heart, yet outwardly he still appeared very happy.

"It's not coincidence; I know your mother, she would definitely have the lunch ready at this hour."

"So I went out and brought you two things before coming back."

Xu Qiang said proudly, his face beaming, as he walked into the house.

Wu Yan was also delighted to see Xu Qiang; she hadn't expected her husband to return early.

The family gathered around the table, chatting and laughing as they ate; it was their first reunion in six months.

During the meal, Xu Qiang flashed a mysterious smile toward his wife and children: "I have good news and bad news; which one do you want to hear first?"

"Tell the bad news first, so we can wash it away with the good news."

Xu Yuexin spoke on behalf of everyone.

In truth, seeing his father's expression, he understood that the so‑called bad news was just talk; the good news was what mattered.

(End of chapter.)