Chapter 336

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

Chai Mi and Song Qiushui strolled for nearly half a day.

Finally, in a shop specializing in restaurant equipment, they saw various stainless steel electric deep fryers with constant temperature control; they looked sturdy.

It's just fucking expensive.

The smaller ones were three to four hundred, the larger ones five to six hundred yuan.

You have to know, in this era, three to four hundred yuan in purchasing power could almost marry a wife.

But doing business is like this — the equipment has to be better; otherwise, the taste of the fried chicken will always be lacking.

The stuff here is relatively complete; aside from being expensive, there's nothing wrong with it.

Besides the deep fryers, there were also large water-boiling pots, the kind that can cook dumplings.

Chai Mi also took one of those, and then haggled with the boss for half a day; in the end, she still spent over eight hundred.

"This is really fucking expensive." Song Qiushui slapped her forehead: "Has the era progressed this much now? This thing is stainless steel, looks really sturdy. I remember before they were all cast iron. Now it's great — as long as you have money, you can buy anything."

Chai Mi didn't reply; she looked at the new deep fryer, but her mind was calculating something else.

The corn being stolen is a signal, indicating someone has set their sights on their family. Chai Youfu stealing chickens came first; although he was caught red-handed, it's hard to guarantee no one else thinks their family is now "fat" and easy pickings.

She has to think of a way...

It's not that this thing fears thieves stealing it; it fears thieves setting their minds on it.

Hard to deal with.

Afterwards, Chai Mi and Song Qiushui loaded the newly bought pots onto the vehicle, packing it full to the brim.

Song Qiushui suddenly said: "Chai Mi, do you think this vehicle is a bit too small..."

Chai Mi froze for a moment, looked at the Inverted Donkey: "It really is indeed a bit small. But I can't afford to buy a vehicle..."

In this era, vehicles not only have average quality, but their prices are also many times more expensive than in the future.

Just any random vehicle costs several tens of thousands; even second-hand ones are terribly expensive.

If we're talking about doing business, delivering goods, and such, naturally the best would be a second-hand Wuling Hongguang or a Jinbei minibus.

Remove the rear seats, the space is huge, and in wind and rain, it's also convenient.

But this kind of thing costs at least twenty thousand.

Unless, like Liu San, you get a small truck, and it has to be eighth-hand at that, and that still cost eight thousand yuan.

Changing vehicles is too expensive.

Let's talk about it later.

But this Inverted Donkey was originally prepared for boiling dumplings and such; now adding fried chicken preparation, a pile of equipment, plus raw materials and such, it really is difficult.

If it were the future, this would be much simpler. You could get a very large cart similar to a house, the kind you push or electric, very labor-saving.

But the current road conditions are very poor.

The roads at home are all dirt, low-lying and uneven.

There are still several li of road to the highway; just this road alone blocks the way — only a proper, sturdy vehicle can make it.

"When I have money, I'll buy you a big Jeep and take you out for a spin." Chai Mi laughed, painting a big pie.

"Hehehehe, then it's a deal. The biggest dream of my life is to take a trip to Jiangnan. People say Jiangnan produces beauties; I'll fucking let them see that I, Song Qiushui, am much prettier than them..."

………………

At home.

Su Wan held a sickle and went around her own cornfield again. The more she looked, the more her heart ached. In the morning, she discovered that the two furrows on the east side of the plot next to the elementary school were missing quite a bit of corn.

In the afternoon, she went to the plot on the Niuhe River beach; the holes where corn had been broken off seemed even more numerous! She squatted at the field ridge, looking at the empty corn stalks, so angry she almost cursed out loud.

This plot was mentioned earlier; when the seedlings first emerged, Chai Dajun had ruined a few furrows, and later Chai Mi replanted them. Because this side is near the river, the corn grew better than those irrigated plots.

As a result, over two mu of land, nearly half was gone.

This thief is too rampant, simply climbing up the pole after being given an inch!

Su Wan was just getting angry, then walked further into the field.

Ahead there was actually a cloth bag, filled with corn, and even further in, someone was still stealing corn.

Rampant to the extreme!

Su Wan cursed angrily: "Who the fuck is so shameless, running into someone else's field in broad daylight to steal corn!"

With Su Wan's shout, the thief was immediately startled.

That person turned and ran; Su Wan gave chase.

But then that person directly disregarded the river water, directly crossing the river channel and running past.

Su Wan watched that person run away; she also didn't dare cross the river because the water was too cold, then returned from the field to the field ridge, and crossed via the small bridge.

Afterwards, she went into the village.

Su Wan naturally saw who stole the corn...

Su Wan's health isn't good; upon reaching the village, she first went home to find Chai Youqing.

Chai Youqing was at home feeding the calf.

"Youqing, our corn is gone again. In broad daylight, someone is stealing corn in the field, just like taking from their own home, not a shred of taboo."

"Which plot is gone again? Who stole it?" Chai Youqing stood up and asked.

Su Wan said: "The plot next to the river channel. When I went to check the field, that guy was right in the field breaking corn cobs, acting like no one was around, even bolder than if it were his own home. After I shouted once, he ran. I think there should be two people: one ran further into the field, I didn't get a look at who; the other waded across the river channel and ran — that one was from Old Liu's family, Liu Xiaochun."

Chai Youqing frowned: "Liu Xiaochun isn't You De's Lianqiao?"

Su Wan nodded: "That's him."

Su Wan nodded: "That's him. Dark and swarthy, bow-legged, runs like a thief — I chased him across the river, not a trace of him left! There was even a torn cloth bag thrown at the field edge, with several freshly broken sticks inside!"

The moment Chai Youqing heard the name "Liu Xiaochun," his eyes bulged round, the cattle-watering gourd ladle in his hand went "clang" onto the ground, water splashing his trouser leg: "What?! Liu Xiaochun?! Chai Youde's younger uncle? This worthless wretch plaything! He's tired of living?! Dares steal our corn?!" A surge of wicked fire "whooshed" up to his forehead, his face flushed crimson, voice trembling a bit: "I... I'm going to find him! This anger I can't swallow!"

He stomped his foot hard, turned and rushed out the courtyard, forgetting even to roll up his sleeves.

"Wait! Youqing!" Su Wan panicked, grabbed his arm: "What's the rush? What use is one person going? That Liu Xiaochun is young and strong, same as his brother-in-law Chai Youde, neither's any good cake! You go and you'll fight again! Chai Mi and Qiu Shui went to the county and haven't returned yet!"

"Wait? Wait for what?!" Chai Youqing shook off Su Wan's hand, neck stiff, blue veins bulging on his neck: "Wait for him to clean out our land? Stealing at our doorway! And in broad daylight! This damn bastard is riding my neck and shitting! He Liu Xiaochun counts for a fart! I... I'm going to find him! Let's see if he dares move me — try it! Unfilial!"

"Oh you're confused!" Su Wan anxious, slapping her thigh repeatedly: "What kind of person Liu Xiaochun is you don't know? Same virtue as his brother-in-law! Slippery meat! Who can you reason with? You'll get yourself sick with anger! Wait for Chai Mi to come back! Her ideas are right!"

"By the time she returns the daylilies will be cold!" Chai Youqing was truly frantic, a sense of grievance from being slighted burning his head dizzy. His gaze swept the wall corner, he snatched up a half-old iron crowbar and rushed out: "I'm going to Liu Xiaochun's house right now! Let's see if he dares move me — try it! Unfilial!"

"Dad! What are you doing!" Chai Xiu ran out from the room, saw this posture and jumped in fright: "Mom! What's going on?"

"Xiu'er! Quick, stop your dad!" Su Wan hurriedly shouted: "Liu Xiaochun stole our corn, your dad found out, now he's going to fight for his life!"

Chai Xiu took two steps, rushed over and hugged Chai Youqing's arm holding the iron crowbar: "Dad! Calm down! What did Sister say when she left? Told you to watch the calf at home! You carry an iron crowbar out, right becomes wrong! Later they'll say you beat someone, cheat you, what then?"

"He steals and still has right?!" Blue veins on Chai Youqing's neck throbbed, voice hoarse: "I... I'm aggrieved! Who did our family offend? Chicken meat just lost, now comes a corn thief! Everyone treats our family like soft persimmons?!"

He trembled all over with rage, the iron crowbar thudding "thump thump" on the ground, more like cheering himself on.

"Can't go like this either!" Chai Xiu held his arm tight: "You can't beat him! Wait for Sister! Sister definitely has a way to deal with him! You go now, fight, who watches our calf? Medicine not fed yet! Just recovered a bit!"

Mention the calf, Chai Youqing's sky-piercing wicked fire was forcibly suppressed a little. He panted heavily, eyes subconsciously glancing toward the cowshed at the still listless little calf, and the old cow beside it restless, mooing now and then, a wave of powerlessness surging up.

He slumped, loosening his hand, the iron crowbar "clang" falling to the ground. He plopped down on the door threshold, hugging his head, voice muffled: "I... I'm useless... can't even watch a calf right, can't even guard a field... what can I still do..."

Su Wan and Chai Xiu exchanged a glance, both let out a breath. Su Wan walked over, sat beside him, sighed: "Ai ai, don't say that... we... wait for Chai Mi to come back."

Chai Youqing didn't make a sound, just buried his head deeper.

That ignited anger and grievance surged left and right in his chest, burning him so he couldn't sit or stand still.

Liu Xiaochun's slightly roguish dark face swayed in his mind. "Stole to our doorway... riding neck shitting..." he muttered repeatedly in his mouth, the more he muttered the more he felt his chest blocked and panicked.

Wait for Chai Mi?

Chai Mi comes back and then what?

Find Village Chief? Village Chief Liu Changgui muddying the waters would be not bad!

This anger, if he Chai Youqing doesn't vent it, afterward in the village he'll never lift his head again!

He abruptly stood up, head down and walked out, this time not even taking a weapon.

"Ai! Youqing! Where you going now?" Su Wan panicked.

"I... I'm going to the latrine!" Chai Youqing didn't look back, but footsteps quickened, straight through the courtyard and out the door.

"Mom, Dad he..." Chai Xiu looked worriedly at father's hurried back.

Su Wan sighed: "Let him go, maybe he's truly stuffed bad." Her heart also messy, corn lost, man like this, can only hope Chai Mi returns early.

Chai Youqing didn't go to the latrine at all. Once out the courtyard gate, he turned onto the small path to the village west. Liu Xiaochun's house is right at the west, next to Chai Zhongming's house, both are the village's poor households, poor in a remarkably odd way.

Back then Chai Zhongming's five brothers married wives and died, later recruited a live-in son-in-law, that was Liu Xiaochun's father.

People call Liu Xiaochun's father Fake Lao Wu, meaning fake Chai Zhongming father's family's fifth.

And Liu Xiaochun's two brothers, the previous litter, were instead driven out by Liu Xiaochun's biological father, leaving only Liu Xiaochun in this courtyard.

Finally Liu Xiaochun also "did not disappoint expectations," starved Fake Lao Wu to death.

Can say, Liu Xiaochun is a thief not a thing.

Chai Youqing naturally also knew.

If speaking of physique, one Liu Xiaochun could beat three Chai Youqings...

But anger and a near-tragic impulse drove him forward, mind only one thought: I Chai Youqing am not mud-pinched! I must go ask! Why steal my corn!

He walked faster and faster, chest that breath topped him so breathing grew heavy. On the road met Lao Sun Tou returning carrying a hoe.

"Yo, Youqing, this rush-rush what you going to do?" Lao Sun Tou greeted.

Chai Youqing footsteps didn't stop, muffled voice replied: "Got a bit of business!"

That bearing, quite a bit of desperate meaning.

Liu Xiaochun's courtyard gate half-closed. Chai Youqing walked to the doorway, heard inside seemed to be humming a little tune, fire "whoosh" rose again. He fiercely shoved open the courtyard gate, a "clang" sound.

In the courtyard, Liu Xiaochun was squatting by the well scrubbing a coat stained with mud, heard noise raised head and saw Chai Youqing, stunned a moment, then face hung that habitual shameless smile: "Yo he, Youqing Ge? What wind blew you here? Rare guest!"

Chai Youqing stood at the doorway, looking at Liu Xiaochun's grinning dark face, and that coat obviously stained with fresh mud, he seemed to see it was from breaking his family's corn and wiping, the momentum and courage accumulated on the road just now instantly leaked a bit, but that grievance feeling grew stronger.

He took a deep breath, tried to make his voice sound righteous, but out came a slight tremble:

"Liu... Liu Xiaochun! You... you broad daylight, ran to my family's He Tao that corn field to do what?!"

Liu Xiaochun threw the coat into the basin, shook water off hands and stood up, smiling but not smiling: "Youqing Ge, what words are these? When did I go your corn field? I've been home all day tidying the courtyard." He pointed at the water basin and wet coat on the ground.

"You fart!" Chai Youqing blood rushed to head, voice suddenly raised high, pointing at Liu Xiaochun: "I... my family's you Sister-in-law saw with her own eyes! You stole broke my corn! Ran away even wading the river! Field edge... field edge still threw your torn cloth bag!"

Liu Xiaochun's smile disappeared, stepped forward two steps, height half a head taller than Chai Youqing, with pressure: "Youqing Ge, rice can be eaten randomly, words cannot be spoken randomly! Who saw me steal your corn? Sister-in-law Su Wan? Her eyes blurred? Or you Chai Youqing see me Liu Xiaochun easy to bully, want to cheat me?"

His tone carried threat: "That torn cloth bag? Streets full of that plaything, why say it's mine?"

"You catch me? Or your family my Sister-in-law pinned me to ground caught me? Your family corn lost, you find me, why? I still say you stole my corn... hmph..."