Chapter 54

Song Qiaoli smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, Chen Shuji. It's just right that you can prepare the goods here first. I will come again next time, and after signing the contract, I can directly pick up the goods. Today we can discuss the price first."

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

Song Qiaoli smiled and said: "Chen Shuji, don't worry, the price we offer will definitely be reasonable."

Seeing that the contract 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 little excited: "Do you really want to learn bamboo weaving? But you'd better not learn it."

Lu Xiaoya asked: "Why?"

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

Lu Xiaoya took a look, and sure enough, Xia Zhu's hands were covered with 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 had 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 both women still admired Xia Zhu and pulled her aside to talk.

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

Lu Zhenghong walked to Su Xinghui's side and said: "Little Su, can you take me to see the village?"

Su Xinghui nodded, got up, and took Lu Zhenghong 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 in the village."

Zhang Cheng nodded in agreement, and Su Xinghui took Lu Zhenghong toward the village.

The village was not large, with only two hundred or so households. Most of the houses were dilapidated. Some roofs were covered with straw because they couldn't afford tiles, and the walls were mottled and crumbling, some even leaning crookedly, as if they would collapse with a gust of wind.

Just by looking at this, Lu Zhenghong knew that what Su Xinghui had told him that 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. When he heard Su Xinghui was from the township government, he hurriedly leaned forward and said: "It's Cadre Su. I'm sorry, our legs and feet are not very convenient, so we can't get up to greet you. Please pour your own water."

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

The old man replied: "My eldest son and second son have both 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 will return in the 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 when I was young, and now that I'm old, I have rheumatism, so I can't walk. Her legs have chronic cold, and 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 Zhenghong, of course, saw it too. He now knew that Su Xinghui's statement that a family only had one or two pairs of trousers to wear was not a lie.

"Why not get medical treatment?" Lu Zhenghong 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 wife pulled his hand. He then remembered that the visitor was a cadre from the township government, so he stopped talking and just shook his head.

Lu Zhenghong didn't ask any more. 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 hurriedly got up and followed Lu Zhenghong. He said to the old man: "Grandpa, then you rest; we are leaving now."

After going out, Lu Zhenghong walked to a large tree and stood there. Su Xinghui stood silently by his side without saying a word.

After a long time, Lu Zhenghong sighed heavily 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 appreciation appeared on Lu Zhenghong's face: "Little Su, you handled this matter very well. By the way, take me to see the breeding farm construction site."

Su Xinghui took Lu Zhenghong toward the construction site. Approaching the site, one could see a scene of intense activity. Some villagers were digging foundations, others had already started laying bricks, and 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.