Chapter 30

Having received such recognition from Song Qiao, Xia Zhu didn't know what to say. In her urgency, she bowed and said: "Thank you, Manager Song!"

Song Qiao calmed her emotions and smiled: "Don't call me Manager Song anymore, just call me Auntie Song!"

Xia Zhu followed her instruction and called out "Auntie Song." Chen Hongfu, Dong Jianshu, Li Mao, and other village cadres in the conference room were both surprised and happy to see this. They hadn't expected such a genius to emerge in Wild Boar Gully; why hadn't they known before? It seemed there would be no problem with signing the contract.

Sure enough, Song Qiao said: "Then we can sign the contract today."

Gao Daping stammered: "Manager Song, the procedures for our bamboo weaving factory haven't been completed yet, and the business license hasn't come down."

Chen Hongfu and Dong Jianshu both glared at Gao Daping, their eyes full of reproach. Gao Daping explained: "It has already been submitted to the township industrial and commercial office, but it has to go through the process, so we won't be able to get the business license until next week at the earliest."

Chen Hongfu instructed: "Tomorrow you go to the industrial and commercial office to urge them; you must make them finish it quickly."

Song Qiao smiled: "It doesn't matter, Secretary Chen. It’s just as well that you can prepare the stock first. Next time I come, after we sign the contract, I can directly pick up the goods and leave. Today we can discuss the prices first."

Chen Hongfu nodded happily. He said to Fang Youcai: "Old Fang, then you discuss the price with Manager Song. Remember, don't let Manager Song suffer a loss!"

Song Qiao smiled: "Secretary Chen, don't worry, the prices we offer will definitely be reasonable."

Seeing that the contract matter was settled, Xia Zhu was so happy she didn't know where to put her hands.

Lu Xiaoya stepped forward and took Xia Zhu’s hand: "Xia Zhu, you are really amazing. That bamboo weaving is so beautiful, can you teach me?"

Xue Qin also walked to Xia Zhu’s side and said: "Yes, I want to learn too."

Seeing these two beautiful girls praising her and wanting to learn bamboo weaving from her, Xia Zhu was a bit excited: "Do you really want to learn bamboo weaving? But you guys shouldn't learn it."

Lu Xiaoya asked: "Why?"

Xia Zhu extended her hands to show her: "Look, how many scars are on my hands?"

Lu Xiaoya looked and, sure enough, Xia Zhu’s hands were covered in scars from being cut by bamboo strips, as well as calluses. Although these scars were very thin and couldn't be seen from afar, if her own hands were covered in such scars, Lu Xiaoya felt terrified just thinking about it.

She stuck out her tongue and stopped talking about wanting to learn bamboo weaving. Xue Qin also gave up the idea, but the two women still admired Xia Zhu and pulled her aside to talk.

Fang Youcai, Zhao Zhongfu, and Gao Daping began to discuss the prices of the bamboo crafts with Song Qiao. For a moment, Su Xinghui had nothing to do.

Lu Zheng walked to Su Xinghui’s side and said: "Little Su, can you lead me to take a look around the village?"

Su Xinghui nodded, got up, and took Lu Zheng out. Before leaving, he pointed to the breeding farm construction site at the east end of the village and said to Zhang Cheng: "Zhang Cheng, the breeding farm is being built over there. You guys go take a look first; I’ll take Uncle Lu for a walk around the village."

Zhang Cheng nodded in agreement, and Su Xinghui led Lu Zheng toward the village.

The village was not large, with only about two hundred households. Most of the houses were very dilapidated. Some families had thatched roofs because they couldn't afford tiles, and the walls of the houses were mottled and crumbling, some even leaning crookedly, as if they could be blown down by a gust of wind.

Just by looking at this, Lu Zheng knew that what Su Xinghui had told him the other day was not an exaggeration at all.

Su Xinghui walked casually to the door of a family and knocked. An old voice came from inside: "Who is it?"

Su Xinghui entered the door. There were no lights in the room, and although it was broad daylight, it was still very dim. After adapting for a few seconds, Su Xinghui saw two old people sitting against the wall on a kang, their legs covered by a thin quilt.

Su Xinghui called out: "Grandpa, Grandma, my surname is Su, I am from the township government, and I am here in the village to take a look today."

The one who spoke just now was the old man. As soon as he heard Su Xinghui was from the township government, he quickly leaned forward and said: "It’s Cadre Su, I’m sorry, our legs and feet are not very convenient, we can't get up to greet you. You pour your own water to drink."

Su Xinghui found two bamboo chairs, gave one to Lu Zheng, and the two sat down. He asked: "Grandpa, where is your family?"

The old man replied: "My eldest son and second son have moved out. We live with our youngest son. The youngest son went to the construction site, the daughter-in-law went to the fields, and the grandson went to school; they won't be back until evening."

Su Xinghui asked again: "Then what happened to your and Grandma’s legs?"

The old man pounded his thighs and said: "Sigh, I fell on these legs when I was young. Now that I’m old, I have rheumatism, so I can't walk. Her legs have chronic cold, so she can't get out of bed either."

When the old man pounded his legs, a corner of the thin quilt was lifted. Su Xinghui could see that his legs were bare and he wasn't wearing long trousers. Lu Zheng naturally saw it too. Now he knew that what Su Xinghui said about a family having only one or two pairs of trousers to wear was not a lie.

"Why not get medical treatment?" Lu Zheng asked in a deep voice.

The old man sighed: "Where would we get the money for treatment?"

He wanted to say something more, but his old wife pulled his hand, and he remembered that the visitor was a cadre from the township government, so he stopped and just shook his head.

Lu Zheng didn't ask any more questions. The situation of this family was clear at a glance, and there was no need to ask. Their home could be described as having nothing but four bare walls, without any valuable items. He got up and walked out. Su Xinghui quickly got up, followed Lu Zheng, and said to the old man: "Grandpa, then you rest, we are leaving first."

After going out, Lu Zheng walked to a large tree and stood there. Su Xinghui stood silently by his side, saying nothing.

After a long while, Lu Zheng sighed deeply and said: "I really didn't expect that life in the countryside today is actually so difficult."

Su Xinghui said: "Yes, I was also shocked when I first came here, so I thought about finding ways for them to get rich."

A look of admiration appeared on Lu Zheng’s face: "Little Su, you have done this very well. By the way, take me to see the breeding farm construction site."

Su Xinghui led Lu Zheng toward the construction site. Approaching the site, one could see a scene of bustling activity. Some villagers were digging foundations, while others had already started laying bricks. Professor Rao was directing a team of people to dig drainage ditches.

Su Xinghui shouted: "Professor Rao!"

Professor Rao turned his head, saw Su Xinghui had arrived, and walked toward him happily.