Chapter 25: Seeing Qin Huairu Again

It was nearly five o'clock when Zhang Ping'an and Jia Dongxu returned to Sijiucheng. When they arrived at the Rolling Mill, the people from the Security Section were stunned; the two tricycles were packed to the brim.

"Ping'an, Dongxu, you two have had another bumper harvest."

"We collected it all from the villagers' homes. We were nearly exhausted today; we traveled nearly two hundred kilometers."

"Impressive."

"To be able to ride eighty or a hundred kilometers while carrying so much cargo, you two are good men."

"Come on, brothers, give them a hand." Seeing the two of them looking as if they had been fished out of water, Tan Jun hurriedly called for everyone to help.

"Many thanks, Brother Jun, brothers." The two of them were indeed exhausted; fortunately, they hadn't stopped using the Space Water along the way, otherwise, they would have been dehydrated just from the sweating.

"Not bad, not bad. Ping'an, Dongxu, you two have worked hard. Go find Section Chief Lou to settle the accounts, then go back and get some good rest."

"Alright, many thanks, Brother (Uncle) Qiang Ge."

After settling the accounts with Section Chief Lou, Lou Zhenyu offered a few words of encouragement and added another 100,000 to the original amount for the two of them.

To tell the truth, this trip really didn't earn as much as a day of fishing, and it was tiring. When split between the two, they only got 45,000 each, but at least they had opened up a line, and there would be one more path after the Public-Private Partnership.

As soon as Zhang Ping'an returned home, he went to the Ear Room to take a shower. His clothes had been wet and dry, dry and wet, and they smelled old, so he hurriedly used soap to rinse them off.

Jia Dongxu had wanted to just wipe himself down at home, but the smell was strong today, so he took his clothes and came over to Zhang Ping'an's place. Seeing Zhang Ping'an come out after his shower, he ran over too.

"Uncle, I want to wash up too, the smell on me is too strong."

"Alright, go ahead." Zhang Ping'an conveniently washed the clothes he had changed out of and hung them up to dry.

In this hot weather, one move and you're covered in sweat, and he would have to wash again in the evening. Zhang Ping'an had also diluted some Space Water and watered the one mu of land in front a while ago; in another half a month, he could plant the wheat.

"Dongxu, let's go eat at your place today."

"Alright."

His Si Jie hadn't finished school yet, so he would let Jia Dongxu cook, and Zhang Ping'an could just talk to his San Jie about the morning's affairs.

"Dongxu, you go cook, I'll chat with San Jie." Zhang Ping'an gave him a wink.

"Alright, Uncle."

"What's wrong, Ping'an?"

"San Jie, it's like this..."

"You mean to say that not only did you complete the purchasing on your trip to the countryside, but you also scouted out a potential partner for Dongxu?"

"Ahem, it's not settled yet, and we haven't told the other party."

"That's a good thing. Get it settled as soon as possible so I can hold a grandson sooner."

"......" How was this reaction different from what he had imagined?

"Alright then, San Jie. That girl seems to be from Qin Family Village. We'll go over in a few days to check out the situation."

"Done. Ping'an, when you go, make sure to ask around carefully. She must be a decent girl."

"Alright."

Zhang Ping'an thought to himself that the Qin Huairu in the drama sacrificed others quite a bit to support her and the three children of the Jia Family; he had nothing to say about her and the Jia Family.

Three days later, early in the morning, Zhang Ping'an and Jia Dongxu each took a vehicle and headed straight for Qin Family Village. This time it wasn't just for purchasing; the main goal was to let Jia Dongxu and the others have a "chance encounter" and to inquire about the character of the Qin family.

This time it was in Changping, which was closer, and they arrived at Qin Family Village shortly after seven o'clock.

"Dongxu, same old rule: one head each."

"Alright."

This time, Zhang Ping'an encountered a hunter coming back down the mountain.

"Uncle, where is the village head's house? I'm a Purchasing Agent from Sijiucheng."

"Oh, what a coincidence. I just caught quite a bit of game, and the village head is my older brother. I'll take you there."

"Done. You can put these game animals on the tricycle."

"Alright." Bringing back this hundred-plus jin of wild boar had been quite tiring.

"The house at the end of this way is it. I need to go back first to process this wild boar."

"Alright, many thanks, Uncle."

"You're welcome. Come by my place later; I've saved up quite a bit during this time."

"Done."

"Auntie??" As soon as Zhang Ping'an arrived at the village head's door, he saw Qin Huairu's mother, Zhang Lan, standing at the entrance chatting with a woman.

"It's you? Did you come by yourself?" After saying this, she looked behind Zhang Ping'an.

"My nephew went to the west end."

"Then he went the wrong way. I'll go bring him over."

"......"

"Done, sorry to trouble you, Auntie."

"Sister-in-law, you..."

"Oh, oh, right, sister-in-law, this is Zhang Ping'an, a Purchasing Agent from the city. We met once at my maiden home. I'm leaving first, sister-in-law."

"Right, Auntie, I was hoping to purchase some mountain goods or something in your village."

"Sure, but you didn't come at a very convenient time. A Purchasing Agent from the city came once last month, and many families sold their goods, so I expect there isn't much left in each household now."

"It's fine, whatever there is will do."

"Alright then, wait a moment. Dear? Wake up, a Purchasing Agent from the city is here."

"Hmm? Didn't one just come last month?"

"It's not the same group of people."

"Oh, alright."

The big man rubbed his face, and only then did he look a bit more energetic.

"Uncle, have a cigarette to refresh yourself."

"Heh, alright." The big man narrowed his eyes slightly and took a deep drag, consuming nearly half the cigarette in one go. This was an epic-level lung hit, and Zhang Ping'an couldn't help but click his tongue.

"Young man, you've never smoked?"

"No, I'm still young and my dad doesn't allow it."

The big man looked Zhang Ping'an up and down, his mouth twitching. At nearly one meter seventy tall and with a sturdy build, he didn't look like a child at all.

"How old are you this year?" the big man asked after a moment of silence.

"Uncle, my name is Zhang Ping'an, and I'm fifteen this year."

"Hmm, you really aren't that old. Alright, I'll shout it out for you; I have quite a few things at home too."

"Many thanks, Uncle."

"Big Brother, there's no need to notify the sister-in-law again; I've already told everyone along the way," Zhang Lan said, with Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu following behind her.

"Good."

It turned out that Jia Dongxu hadn't gone far to the west before he ran into Qin Huairu, who was returning from gathering pig grass; both of them were stunned for a moment.

"Ahem, Miss, we meet again."

"Mm, Brother Jia." Qin Huairu was still a bit shy.

"I see you have quite a lot of things in your basket. Where is your home? I'll help you take it back." As for finding the village chief? That was out of the question.

"This..."

"Don't 'this' and 'that.' Look, you're covered in sweat." Without a second word, Jia Dongxu took the basket off Qin Huairu and placed it on the tricycle.

"Thank you, Brother Jia, my home is to the east."

"Alright, you get on and sit too." Jia Dongxu turned the vehicle around without hesitation.

"No, no need, I'll point the way for you."

"That works too."

The two chatted along the way, mostly with Jia Dongxu asking questions and Qin Huairu answering in a low voice; they hadn't gone far before they met Zhang Lan, who was hurrying over.

"You two..."

"Mother~"

"Auntie, don't misunderstand. I saw Huairu—er, Miss Qin—carrying such a large basket and struggling, so I just happened to be going the same way and offered to bring it back."

"Good, good, good. Dongxu, you really have a warm heart."

"Ah?" Jia Dongxu had expected to be lectured, but he didn't expect to be praised instead of scolded.

"Come, come, come, let's go to Auntie's house for a drink of water and a rest. Your uncle is at Big Brother's house, and they aren't far apart."

"Oh, oh, alright." Jia Dongxu followed along, feeling a bit dazed.

Zhang Lan chatted and laughed with Jia Dongxu the whole way, and Zhang Lan also helped Jia Dongxu talk about the purchasing to the villagers they passed; there was certainly no shortage of teasing, leaving only Qin Huairu so embarrassed that she buried her head into her massive granary.

"Auntie, I won't drink the water. I'd better go meet up with my uncle first," Jia Dongxu said after placing the basket in front of Qin Huairu's door.

"Alright, then let's go. I'll take you there. Huairu, you come along and lend a hand too."

"Oh, alright."