Chapter 217

"Your awareness isn't high enough." Gu Fu said calmly, "The leaders all say we must look at problems with a developmental perspective. Just because I couldn't grow mushrooms before doesn't mean I can't now."

Brigade Leader: You're really putting on airs now.

However.

Whoever has the technology is the boss.

He said seriously, "Are you really willing to share the mushroom cultivation technology and lead everyone to make money?"

The Brigade Leader had foresight and could see the prospects of mushroom cultivation.

... It would definitely allow everyone in the entire brigade to live a good life.

Gu Fu rolled his eyes at him, "Otherwise what? Did I come to your house just to mess with you?"

What kind of person is he? He's not someone who talks nonsense; this old guy is really annoying to talk to.

The Brigade Leader hurriedly said, "That's not what I meant, I just... I can't believe it, I really can't believe it."

His expression was complex, "In this day and age, nothing edible is worthless. Although mushrooms aren't as good as pork, no one dislikes them. If everyone masters this craft, they won't have to worry in the future!"

In the end, after those few years of famine that they didn't even dare to think about, they were all terrified. They viewed anything that could fill their stomachs as more important than anything else.

Gu Fu had also survived the famine. If it weren't for his successful son, and if it weren't for their brigade being backed by the rolling green mountains, their family would have lost people too.

Those were all things from years ago.

At that time, food was scarce across the country, and they had heard news of a village where more than half the people starved to death.

The people of the Harvest Brigade knew clearly that relying on relief from above was impossible, so the young men in the village bravely ventured into the deep mountains to find food. Many people died at that time, but they finally brought back yams, fern roots, and other things that could fill their stomachs. Only by having food was the village able to be preserved.

Filling one's stomach is more important than anything else.

"I'll teach! As long as they can be grown, I'll teach!!" Gu Fu recalled the events of the famine years and said loudly.

It must be said that the Brigade Leader's few words awakened his dead memories.

These mushrooms must be grown.

He even thought, if the whole brigade had grown mushrooms during the famine, would those who were lost have survived?

It's a pity, time only moves forward.

The Brigade Leader grasped Gu Fu's hand, "I thank you on behalf of the whole village! If this matter can really succeed, you will be the great benefactor of the whole village!"

Gu Fu pulled his hand back; his fingers hurt a lot.

Such brute strength.

He thought to himself.

"I'm not."

"Chenghuai's wife is." Gu Fu didn't claim the merit.

"She provided the technology, the spawn, and even said she would help find sales channels..."

"What?" The Brigade Leader's tone rose, sounding slightly harsh, "Xiang Yubao's mother is also helping to find sales channels?!!"

He stared fixedly at Gu Fu.

Gu Fu was almost deafened by the noise; he rubbed his ears to relieve the discomfort.

"You're the Brigade Leader, you're in charge of so many people, can't you be a little calmer..."

My ears, oh.

Coming to find this person today might have been the wrong decision.

"I can't be calm at all!" The Brigade Leader's face turned red with excitement, his eyes glowing, "What you just said... Chenghuai's wife is helping to find sales channels, is that true?!"

Gu Fu: "Of course it's true. Would I lie? It was Third daughter-in-law who said it herself, just now!"

He is not the kind of person who talks nonsense for the sake of face; every word he says is guaranteed to be true.

The Brigade Leader stood up excitedly, pacing back and forth, his face piled with worthless smiles.

"Old Gu, does your borrowing cow dung from the neighboring brigade have anything to do with you growing mushrooms?" He asked.

"Of course."

The Brigade Leader looked at him with apologetic eyes: "I didn't know."

"Old Gu, I've let you down." He felt very guilty, "Before, when the educated youth were talking about you, I didn't even speak up for you."

Gu Fu looked at his appearance, feeling uncomfortable all over, "That's enough."

"You not getting involved was the right thing to do, and I didn't suffer any loss. If you had gotten involved, those educated youth would have started making a scene again, saying our brigade was targeting the educated youth group."

He was very helpless, "Why would we target them? It's not like we have nothing better to do. If we have that time, we might as well plow two more acres of land."

The Brigade Leader immediately said, "Who's to say? They're all people who read so much they broke their brains!"

Heaven is my witness, their brigade has been generous enough to the educated youth, lending them grain, building them houses... no matter what trivial matter it was, they solved it. Who knew that in the end, they would get a comment that the brigade was targeting them? Several brigade cadres were so depressed they couldn't stand it.

"Let's not talk about them, let's talk about business." The Brigade Leader changed the subject, looking at Gu Fu seriously, "Old Gu, grow the mushrooms well. If you need any help, come find me. I'll definitely help with what I can, and I'll even try to help with what I can't."

Gu Fu: "..."

"There's no need for help for the time being, I'm just telling you first. If things go smoothly, we can start building the mushroom house in a while."

The mushroom house also has requirements; you have to build mushroom racks, lay out mushroom beds... it's very troublesome.

"Building a house is nothing difficult. There are plenty of people in the village. When the time comes, they'll all listen to you. You say how to do it, and that's how it'll be done." The Brigade Leader said directly.

He wasn't a greedy person; he never thought about stealing the mushroom cultivation technology and keeping all the benefits for himself. That wasn't good.

It also looked bad.

There was no need.

Think about it from another angle: if this matter really succeeds, can the commune not give him credit?

Even if he wasn't the one who came up with it, he is still the Brigade Leader of the Harvest Brigade. If the Gu family can eat meat, he can also drink the meat broth.

Prosperity for one is prosperity for all; it's very easy to understand.

Gu Fu understood the Brigade Leader's meaning and said, "If the whole brigade starts raising mushrooms, the commune will probably set up an epidemic prevention station. If Dahai has any thoughts, he can prepare in advance."

The Brigade Leader understood the hidden meaning in his words, and a flash of light appeared in his eyes.

He patted Gu Fu on the shoulder, his words full of joy, "Many thanks, if you hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have thought of it."

"We're all our own people, why be so polite." Gu Fu waved his hand.

None of the brigade's cadres were fools. After such a long time, they could all see that he had some connection with the person at the foot of the mountain, and they also knew... he was secretly helping the old Mr. Qiao. Even when they saw it, they acted as if they hadn't, and didn't even ask.

Gu Fu remembered their kindness and had long wanted to repay it. The mushroom cultivation matter gave him hope.

After finishing the business, he stood up, intending to go home.

Just at this moment, Gu Qingzhou walked in, holding the twins by the hands.

"Uncle Brigade Leader, I'm going to the county to take Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao, I'd like to borrow your bicycle."

"It's parked there, here's the key, push it yourself." The Brigade Leader didn't say a word and gave him the bike key.

Even the Brigade Leader's wife didn't say anything.

The Gu family is polite; they never borrow bicycles for free and don't add trouble to the Brigade Leader's family. If his family borrows it, they just borrow it.

Gu Qingzhou thanked him, walked over to unlock it, put the twins on the bike, and pushed it out the door.

Knowing his grandsons were returning to the county, Gu Fu couldn't stay any longer and followed hurriedly.

Once they left...

The Brigade Leader's wife asked urgently, "What did you mean by what you just said to Chenghuai's father? When will the commune set up an epidemic prevention station, and what does this have to do with Dahai?!"

The Brigade Leader took out a pack of "Da Qianmen" cigarettes he was reluctant to smoke, struck a match with a "chi" sound, lit the cigarette, took a satisfied puff, exhaled the smoke, and before his wife could hit him, said leisurely, "What does it have to do with Dahai?"

He looked at his wife and smiled, mysteriously, "Once the epidemic prevention station is established, I have a seventy percent chance of getting Dahai into it."

The Brigade Leader narrowed his eyes, "That's the commune's epidemic prevention station. It's almost the same as entering a factory; it's not an iron rice bowl, but it's better than an iron rice bowl. You tell me what it has to do with Dahai?"

Everyone has selfish motives; with such a good thing, of course he wants to give it to his own son.

The Brigade Leader's wife's face lit up with joy, her whole face glowing red.

"Dahai's father, are you serious?"

Her voice was out of tune with excitement, and fearing she would disturb the neighbors, she suppressed it with all her might, "Our Dahai is going to have an iron rice bowl?!"

The Brigade Leader pressed his wife's shoulder, signaling her not to get excited yet, "It's only possible, not certain; there could be changes. Don't get excited too early. Don't worry, I'm keeping an eye on it. As long as there's an opportunity..."

The rest didn't need to be said.

The Brigade Leader's wife knew that he wouldn't say this if he didn't have at least a fifty percent chance. Looking at it this way, wasn't her son getting an iron rice bowl a sure thing!

She said happily, "Master of the house, you really have ability! If Dahai really gets an iron rice bowl, then..."

The Brigade Leader guessed what she wanted to say and hurriedly interrupted, "Be careful what you say! Don't say things you shouldn't, especially about the commune possibly setting up an epidemic prevention station later. Don't talk about it outside, be careful not to ruin everything."

"Look at you, am I that talkative?" The Brigade Leader's wife was unconvinced.

The Brigade Leader looked at her with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Aren't you?

You're hilarious.

The Brigade Leader's wife smiled sheepishly and said, "... I definitely won't talk about this. It concerns my son's lifelong major event, I won't ruin it with my mouth."

The Brigade Leader saw that she had remembered, and his expression relaxed.

"Good to know."

After smoking half of a "Da Qianmen," the Brigade Leader extinguished the cigarette, tucked the remaining half away properly, and strolled out the door to tell the other brigade cadres... about the mushroom cultivation matter.

Gu Qingzhou had just reached the door of his house when he saw his mother walking toward him with a bamboo basket.

"Qingzhou, the basket has the eggs I've been saving, find a way to take them." Gu Mu instructed.

Gu Qingzhou took it, hung it on the handlebars, and fastened it securely with his hand.

The basket was lined with straw, and each egg was wrapped tightly so they wouldn't break on the bumpy road.

"Are these for us? Thank you, Grandma." Gu Hangbao sat on the front beam of the bicycle, his hands gripping the handlebars, his smile bright.

After speaking, he shifted his little butt and turned to look at his Little Uncle, "Little Uncle, let go, I'll hold it."

Gu Qingzhou hesitated, "Can you do it? It's very heavy."

"I can do it, I'll secure the basket, I know how." Gu Hangbao was used to following Lin Zhao back and forth between the city and the brigade, and he was quite good at carrying things.

Gu Qingzhou saw he was full of confidence and didn't say anything more.

He'd try it first; he could see everything, so he could stop at any time.

Gu Mu added, "Your Third sister-in-law took Qian Bao and Gu Hangbao back to get the bicycle. You go over now and return to the county with her. Be careful on the road, don't drop your nephew, and don't drop the eggs either."

She'd been saving them for several days.

Gu Qingzhou: "..."

She hadn't mentioned him at all.

At this moment, Xiang Yubao said thoughtfully, "Little Uncle can't be dropped either!"

Gu Qingzhou's cold heart instantly felt warm.

He bent down slightly and rubbed his face against Xiang Yubao's face.

"Little Uncle thanks you."

Xiang Yubao must be the warmest child in the world.

Damn, my heart is melting.

Gu Hangbao's brain was working especially fast today, and he said, "We're on the same bike, if we fall, we all fall, even the eggs will break."

Gu Qingzhou looked at him, speechless.

"... You're right."

Gu Mu rubbed Gu Hangbao's forehead, "You're so clever. Your hair is long, when you get to the county, have your mom take you to get it cut."

"Okay!" Gu Hangbao touched his hair, feeling that it had indeed grown long, almost covering his eyes, and responded in a cheerful tone.

"Grandma, when Li Bao is better, don't forget to have my eldest uncle send him to my house, okay?"

Before leaving, Gu Hangbao didn't forget his good brother.

"Okay." Gu Mu said dotingly.

Gu Qingzhou saw them talking endlessly, shouted that they were leaving, jumped on the bicycle, and left with the two cubs.

Just as they reached the door of the Gu family's third branch, they saw Lin Zhao pushing the twins out.

Her lady's bicycle had two extra child seats in the front and back. They were welded by Uncle Song, very sturdy. Worried that Qian Bao and Seeing Yaobao would bump their legs, she wrapped them in soft urea bags and laid down soft cushions—VIP-level treatment.

"Mom, we're here." Gu Hangbao waved his hand, his voice clear and bright.

"I see you." Lin Zhao locked the gate.

Da Huang and Hu Po sat obediently at the gate, looking up at their owner, waiting to see her off to the village entrance.

"Da Huang and Hu Po are coming too." She said.

The doghouse in the county courtyard was ready, so it was time to take them over, lest the two cubs ask every day.

Hearing this, Da Huang stood up, its tail wagging fast, its eyes shining as it looked at Lin Zhao.

Hu Po circled around Da Huang and Lin Zhao's legs.

Lin Zhao made a gesture to start, "Let's go."

At her command, the two dogs shot out like arrows from a bow, running very fast.

Seeing Yaobao sat in the front, seeing the dogs run away, and kept urging, "Huang Huang, Hu Hu..."

Once she got anxious, she started using reduplicated words again.

"We're chasing, we're chasing." While speaking, Lin Zhao accelerated her pedaling.

In the back seat, Qian Bao sat obediently, his little body strapped in securely but not uncomfortably. He held Xiao Jin in his arms, worried that Xiao Jin would be scared, and kept stroking its head with his hand, his movements very, very gentle.

"Don't be afraid, Mom is taking us to our new home." Qian Bao said in a small voice.

Xiao Jin nestled in his arms, its tail tightly wrapped around his arm. Its black eyes watched the trees constantly receding. At first, it was a bit timid, but not long after, it rested its front paws on Qian Bao's shoulder, looking around, very curious.

Qian Bao used the tone Mom used to praise them, praising Xiao Jin in a milky voice: "Xiao Jin is really great."

Xiao Jin's round and furry head nudged against his neck, and it made a happy sound.

Lin Zhao heard it, and the corners of her mouth lifted.

After raising it for so long, its courage was finally a bit bigger.

Lin Zhao wasn't home, so Yunjin had no heart to read, nor did he have the heart to lie down, so he simply sat at the door and waited.

Seeing his sister's figure from afar, he stood up and ran toward her.

"Sister, you rode here? How tiring, I said I'd go with you but you wouldn't let me. If I were there, you wouldn't be so tired, you're even sweating..." Song Yunjin nagged, took the bicycle, greeted Gu Qingzhou, and pushed Qian Bao and Seeing Yaobao toward the house.

Seeing Da Huang and Hu Po, he said, "Sister, you brought Da Huang and Hu Po too? Are they not going back anymore?"

"They are." Lin Zhao said, "Occasionally."

After living in the county for a while, she found that everything was convenient, and then she didn't want to go back to the village to live.

Song Yunjin was very happy, "Living in the city is good, it's convenient."

Several people entered the house.

Gu Qingzhou originally didn't want to enter, intending to go straight back, but Lin Zhao glanced at him, and he didn't dare say no again, so he pushed the bike obediently into the courtyard.

After parking the bike, he scanned the furnishings of the courtyard, feeling it was better than the one in the village.

The area was large, the layout was good, and it was very new; it looked comfortable just looking at it.

Lin Zhao went into the room and brought out two large bags of things.

"Qingzhou, take these things back. One bag is material for pasting matchboxes, divide it among the eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law, tell them I'll go back at the end of the month to settle the accounts. The other bag is for Mother and Father, the red dates and honey are for Mother, the green brick tea is for Father to taste, and the leather gloves are for you."

These things were all won from the lucky draw, and there was some overlap with what Lin Shifan had sent back. If anyone asked, there was a source for them.

After speaking, without waiting for Gu Qingzhou to answer, Lin Zhao dismissed him: "Take the things and go back. If there's anything at home, come here and find me."

Then she turned and went back into the room.

She didn't mention the matchbox matter when she went back to the brigade, mainly because she didn't have the patience to push things back and forth.

Gu Qingzhou carried the things, didn't say anything Lin Zhao wouldn't like to hear, and just thanked her: "Thank you, Third sister-in-law."