Chapter 386

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

In fact, Chai Youqing's trip to inquire turned out basically the same as Chai Mi had guessed — Chai Zhongxiao would only get three to five months of punishment.

Since that's the case, then we'll just wait.

As for the rest, Chai Mi couldn't be bothered to care anymore.

Afterwards Chai Mi said: "Since things are like this now, let's wait until the old man comes out before talking about it. That autumn harvest matter — I said to hire people. But after all, there's a generational difference; me spending money isn't a big deal. My second uncle can't spend it either... Grandpa and Grandma have several dozen mu of land, it'll take a really long time to finish."

"Dad, you go out to work, then earn some money, hire people for Grandma's autumn harvest. After all, we can't just not harvest, right?"

Chai Youqing froze for a moment.

"So you want me to ignore my grandma?" Chai Mi said coldly: "You're the most filial, how could you watch the old lady starve to death? You're the eldest son, how can it work if you don't go out and earn money? I heard the brick factory is short on hands, twenty-something a day is still doable. You go tomorrow."

"Then the matter of picking up Xiu'er..."

"I'll hire someone. Right, the bicycle was bought by me, you don't ride it anymore, go earn your own money and buy your own." After Chai Mi finished speaking, she no longer paid any attention to Chai Youqing.

Su Wan chased over and asked: "Your dad's waist just got better..."

"That has nothing to do with me. I don't want someone taking other people's labor results and pretending to be filial all day." As Chai Mi spoke, she even glanced at Chai Youqing: "You're filial, I don't oppose it. You go earn your own money to be filial. That ancestral hall was also bought by me, don't touch it."

Chai Youqing stood frozen in place, at a loss.

Chai Mi especially detested Chai Youqing taking the family's labor results to pretend to embody his filial piety.

But she also didn't want to deal with Chai Youqing anymore.

"Mom, don't cook his portion. He hasn't earned a single cent this year, his waist injury still cost a lot. He has no ability to earn money, so let him starve. If he has ability, he goes out to earn money tomorrow, otherwise he can sew his own mouth shut. Less of that damn using other people's hard-earned money to go give gifts."

The conflict between Chai Mi and Chai Youqing had always been huge.

Stirring up trouble every day, who wouldn't be annoyed.

By noon, Chai Youqing still hadn't gone out to work... at mealtime, Chai Youqing wanted to eat...

But no food had been cooked.

Chai Mi directly picked up a hammer and smashed the pot.

Only then did Chai Youqing realize Chai Mi was truly angry.

But it was too late.

"Go work this afternoon, earn money. Don't hole up at home, if you don't earn money you starve yourself, or however you die, I won't care."

Chai Youqing had no choice but to walk to the brick factory.

That place is quite, quite far...

Worked half a day and walked back, still no food to eat in the evening.

The next day continued going...

By the third day, Chai Youqing finally softened.

But Chai Mi's attitude was also very clear: Chai Youqing, you can be filial, that's human nature, but don't mess things up. You can take your own money to be filial, if you can earn it.

Also need to see the situation clearly, this matter has already become like this.

And on the other side, because Chai Mi didn't spend money, just talked. That old man and old lady's crops basically just rotted in the field.

After all, Chai You Fu also couldn't possibly spend money.

So, Wang Huirong's crops had no one to harvest...

Of course, Chai Youde's own bit of land also had no one to harvest...

Before, all this work was done with Chai Youqing and Su Wan helping. Now Chai Mi's attitude is this firm, the crops never had a harvest to begin with, and now no one to harvest...

After half a day, Chai You Fu couldn't sit still, came up to ask Chai Mi: "Chai Mi, your grandpa and grandma's land..."

Chai Mi said blandly: "Second Uncle, the old lady has hands and feet, she can work. Hiring people is so expensive now, wages get higher every day. That bit of corn isn't much, not even enough to cover wages if harvested. Better let the old lady do it herself, do a bit and bring it home, just enough for her to eat. Then this matter is settled. Saves her having extra money and still giving it to Chai Youde. Back then no one forced her, she still testified to send the old man in, otherwise there wouldn't be today's situation."

Chai You Fu also didn't want to meddle too much, so he said: "Then just let the old lady harvest a bit herself. Just that land planted but not harvested, it's a bit bad no matter what."

Chai Mi smiled: "As long as the land hasn't changed owners it's fine. The rest... let's wait until my grandpa comes out. I had someone inquire, it'll be soon. Three months or two months. Our drought here is no problem, corn in winter even if buried by snow won't spoil. Besides, the corn in the field hasn't been cut, it's still growing, no problem..."

Indeed, cut corn is easy to rot from heat.

Uncut corn, indeed no problem.

Of course, uncut corn, eventually the corn leaves are gone, that's the main feed for cattle and sheep, corn stalks without leaves are just for burning.

Chai You Fu saw Chai Mi disagreed, he didn't insist either, and went back.

Time flies, years pass like a shuttle.

Before one knows it, a long time has passed.

Autumn deepens, cool wind swirling withered leaves in the courtyard.

Chai Mi had just covered the newly mixed filling basin with a damp cloth when Song Qiushui ran over.

"Chai Mi! Chai Mi! She passed! She passed!"

Su Wan was in the room tending the fire, startled: "What passed? Are you possessed?"

Chai Mi wiped her hands, brows slightly furrowed: "What's the panic? Speak slowly, who passed?"

"Xiu'er! It's Xiu'er! Provincial! Math competition! First place! Provincial first place! I went to pick up Xiu'er after school, the teacher gave me the award certificate and diploma! Provincial first place, Chai Mi! Top scholar! She really became the top scholar!"

"What?!"

Su Wan, who usually had little opinion of her own, even got a bit excited at this moment.

She abruptly stood up, her voice changing pitch, "Xiu'er... really got first place? The whole province's?"

Chai Mi took the thin sheet of paper; the certificate's content was extremely concise: "Student Chai Xiu won first place in the provincial elementary school mathematics competition. Reporting this good news. Provincial Department of Education, Competition Organizing Committee." White paper, black words, clear and distinct.

Chai Mi was overjoyed, but then asked, "What about Xiu'er? I told you to go pick up Xiu'er, you brought back the certificate, but where's the person..."

Song Qiushui: "Ah, damn it... I forgot the person..."

"Well done." Chai Mi's mouth nearly twisted with anger.

"You're really something! Told you to pick up the kid after school and bring her home, you managed to bring back the certificate but lost the kid... no, Song Qiushui, why didn't you lose yourself too?"

Song Qiushui went back awkwardly and rode the inverted donkey to pick up Chai Xiu.

Su Wan actually looked a bit at a loss; having given birth to two daughters who turned out so promising, she was proud.

But as a mother, she only knew how to make dumplings for her children, so she said, "Then... let's make dumplings for dinner."

"Anything's fine, Mom, you decide."

After half an hour, Song Qiushui finally brought Chai Xiu back this time.

Chai Mi directly ordered, "You go to the street again, buy two strings of the loudest firecrackers, and weigh out ten or fifteen catties of fruit candy. Let's spread the celebratory atmosphere first!"

"Okay, I'm going right now!" Song Qiushui ran off happily.

Before long, the "crackling" sound of firecrackers exploded at the Chai family courtyard gate, deafening, red paper scraps flying all over the sky.

Neighbors on both sides poked their heads out.

"Oh my! Setting off firecrackers at this hour, what happy event does Chai Mi's family have now?"

"Could it be Xiu'er..."

"Definitely! I heard our kids say Xiu'er got first place in that provincial competition! Xiu'er won a big prize!"

Xiangli Chief Liu Zhanggui squeezed over with a cigarette in his mouth, face full of smiles: "Chai Mi! Is it true Xiu'er really brought glory to our village? I said that girl is the Literary Star descended to earth!"

Chai Mi grabbed a big handful of fruit candy and handed it out one by one to the kids who came to watch the excitement: "Thanks to everyone's blessings! Xiu'er went to the provincial math competition and got provincial first place!"

"Wow! Provincial first place?!"

"Oh my god! She really became a zhuangyuan!"

"Remarkable! Remarkable! Chai Mi, your family has really stood tall now!"

"I said Xiu'er was smart from a young age, and I was right!"

Su Wan was also overjoyed: "Congratulations, congratulations! Eat candy, eat candy!"

Chai Mi dealt with the enthusiastic neighbors, watching Liu Zhanggui still smoking.

"Xiangli Chief, can I borrow you for a word?" Chai Mi lowered her voice.

Liu Zhanggui was happily peeling candy wrapper, hearing this he immediately leaned in: "What is it Chai Mi? Got something to say, say it!"

Chai Mi pulled him to a slightly quieter corner: "Want to ask you something. A few days ago I went to the township to pay taxes, heard people gossiping, saying the higher-ups seem to want to promote something... vegetable greenhouses around here? Is there such a thing? Reliable?"

Liu Zhanggui's eyes lit up, he stuffed the candy in his mouth, savoring the sweetness, and also lowered his voice: "Hey! Your news is well-informed! There is such a rumor! Old Chen from the township agricultural technology station even came to our village to look around a few days ago, saying they seem to want to promote some sunshine vegetable greenhouses, promoting them across the whole township!"

"Oh? What exactly did they say?" Chai Mi perked up.

"Said the county allocated funds, pick a few villages with suitable conditions as pilot sites, build these 'off-season vegetable' greenhouses." Liu Zhanggui gestured, "That means in winter you can grow cucumbers, tomatoes, chili peppers that only exist in summer! Hit the market around New Year's, can sell for a huge amount of money!"

"Hey! They said, use plastic sheeting to build a greenhouse, burn a stove inside, just like a heated house! Old Chen patted his chest and guaranteed the technology is very mature, the south started doing it early, making a fortune!" Liu Zhanggui spoke with flying saliva, "But, heard the investment isn't small, plastic sheeting, bamboo poles, stoves, plus seeds and fertilizer, all together costs several thousand yuan! And quotas are limited, the township prioritizes villages near the highway with flat land, our Sanjiacun counts as one, but there's only twenty-some quotas total, fierce competition!"

"Several thousand yuan..." Chai Mi rapidly calculated costs and benefits in her heart. Risk wasn't small, but if it really succeeded, profit would absolutely be considerable. Fresh vegetables at New Year's, prices could multiply several times. "Do you think people in the village believe this? Many signing up?"

Liu Zhanggui pursed his lips, leaned in closer, voice pressed extremely low: "Some believe Old Chen, quite a few think he's bluffing. Our ancestors have always farmed by the grace of heaven, winter eating Chinese cabbage, radishes, potatoes, who's ever seen cucumbers growing in deep winter? Lots of people are uneasy! Sign up? I reckon those willing to put real gold and silver into it, not many households! All waiting to see who becomes that protruding rafter!" He paused, looking at Chai Mi, "What? Chai Mi, you have ideas? You're sharp, gutsy, if you take the lead, loans and such I'll help you arrange!"

Chai Mi didn't answer directly, smiled: "Let's watch and see, think it over. When's the specific meeting?"

"Don't know yet, I'll tell you in advance when the time comes." Liu Zhanggui patted his chest guaranteeing.

Chai Mi then went back.

After the excitement lasted a while, people dispersed.

Chai Mi returned to the room, Chai Xiu was taking out a pile of prizes.

Fountain pen, medal, and some travel vouchers.

"Good! Good! My daughter is really amazing!" Su Wan hugged the certificate, touching it again and again, as if it were a priceless treasure.

Chai Mi looked, they were all things not worth much money, but the significance was still very big; sometimes schools mostly just issue certificates.

Unlike later generations so mercenary, every other time giving out several catties of pork.

"Was the trip back smooth? What about Teacher An?"

"Teacher An is still in the provincial capital, said there's some follow-up matters. He told us to take the coach back first, said he'd advance the ticket money, the school will reimburse later..." Chai Xiu was a bit embarrassed.

Chai Mi didn't mind at all, "What else did Teacher An say?"

"Teacher An said, with my grades, next spring I might be selected to participate in the national competition! If I can get a good ranking again... there's a chance to be scouted early by the best high school in the province... even university... Teacher An said... this is called... recommendation admission?"

"Recommendation admission?"

Chai Mi froze for a moment, after a while said: "Xiu'er, this is the path you earned yourself. Sister supports you, wherever you go, I'll support you that far. Study hard, don't be afraid."

"Mm! Right, Teacher An also said next semester I shouldn't be in elementary school anymore, but go to middle school..."

Chai Mi froze: "Straight to middle school? Skipping so many grades..."

Chai Mi even felt a bit sour herself, it was just too bizarre...

She herself studied bitterly, thought she was pretty smart, couldn't even pass the high school entrance exam.

Result, her little sister, in less than half a year, going straight from elementary school to graduation...

"Fine, wherever works. This... let's eat dumplings."

"Sister, I feel like you don't seem very happy?"

"Where would that be?"

"You're jealous of me..."

"Where would that be..."

"You envy me..."

"Eat..."

At night, Chai Mi tossed and turned, finding it hard to fall asleep.

Chai Mi now had some money; she had indeed earned quite a bit from street vending these past few months.

But seeing that winter was coming, if she continued street vending, business might plummet.

Everyone knew the weather in the Northeast; once winter arrived, everyone would start hibernating.

And by then, with temperatures dropping to minus ten-something degrees, street vending would be somewhat difficult.

By then, the dumplings would have cooled just after coming out of the pot; who would still buy them?

Of course, fried chicken might still have some business, but probably not much. Once the students went on winter break, she would basically have to close shop.

It was already mid-October now; the autumn harvest was basically over. It was deep autumn, and it would definitely get colder and colder.

"Sister, why aren't you sleeping at midnight?" Chai Xiu asked after waking up at midnight.

Chai Mi thought for a moment, then asked Chai Xiu, "Xiu'er, how much capital do you think is needed for that vegetable greenhouse..."

Chai Xiu blinked: "Sister, give me some parameters or something, let me calculate..."

"Length seventy or eighty meters, width seven or eight meters... that's already one mu of land... you calculate..."