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It's all because he lacks foresight!

"Alas, it's all my fault for not paying attention. If I had been more attentive, perhaps we could have gotten more seedlings last year," Qi Dazhu said regretfully. "How about this, Brother He, let's clear the land and cultivate seedlings at the same time, and try to get all the seedlings from the remaining hills."

"Aren't you afraid that you'll have too many peaches and won't be able to sell them?" He Jingyu asked with a smile.

"Don't worry, our peaches are so good, and we're from Taoyuan County, which has a lot of appeal, so we don't have to worry about selling them," Secretary Qi said. "If they're really so bad that we can't sell them, we can eat them ourselves, or we can secretly take them out and trade them with others. Anyway, these are grown in barren mountains, so they don't take up farmland, and this is what our Qijia Village gains."

“That’s right,” He Jingyu said. “Alright, this year we’ll build a few more greenhouses in the peach orchard and try to get more seedlings. After all, seedlings take three years to bear fruit, so the earlier we get them, the sooner they’ll bear fruit.”

Back in the village, the people of Qijia Village were overjoyed to hear that the meat had sold for a price similar to that of pork. This meant that they would receive a lot of money and grain during the New Year.

Qi Shuliang had already chosen a date and went to inform County Chief Niu in person.

On that day, all the men, young and old, from Qijia Village came to help.

The leaders of Huai City visited again, and their attitude was even better than last time, bringing many wreaths.

That batch of peaches was transported directly to Yanjing after Secretary Qi delivered them to the county town.

Secretary Ma's work has been praised by provincial leaders, and even his former superior revealed that he may be promoted further next year.

This is all thanks to Qijia Village and He Jingyu.

On this occasion, Secretary Ma also brought He Jingyu a second-class merit certificate, a reward of 500 yuan, 500 jin of grain coupons, and some miscellaneous industrial vouchers.

Qi Shuliang, along with his son Qi Zhenghan and other male relatives, went up the mountain to worship their ancestors.

After bowing and kowtowing three times, Qi Shuliang prostrated himself on his father's grave, weeping bitterly, repeatedly saying, "Your son is unfilial, your son is unfilial, I failed to serve my father in his old age..."

Women were not allowed to participate in ancestral worship, but now it's a new society and there aren't as many of these old customs, so Anna took her child and kowtowed to her father-in-law.

Next came He Jingyu, followed by Wang Shuping, who led He Tiantian in kowtowing.

They recognized Grandma Qi as their godmother, and this old lady was their godfather, so it was only right that they kowtowed to her.

Next, the leaders paid their respects, but they didn't need to kowtow; a bow was sufficient.

Almost all the men in the village came and kowtowed in worship.

Finally, the wreaths were placed around the newly added grave. In the campaign to destroy the Four Olds, paper money could not be burned, at least not in front of the leaders.

After lunch, the leaders visited Qi Shuliang's family again before leaving, having successfully completed their mission.

After the person left, Qi Shuliang found the paper money that had been cut up and, together with Qi Dazhu, Qi Shuming and a few other close friends, began to burn paper money for his old father, hoping that his father would have money to spend in the afterlife, money to spend as he pleased, money that he could never spend all of.

In the evening, the brothers went home and chatted about the past.

After completing the ancestral worship ceremony, Qi Shuliang was in a somber mood for a while. Every day, he would take some time to sit at his father's grave and talk to him about the things that had happened over the years. Sometimes, he would bring some food from home, a bottle of wine, and two cups, drinking one cup and pouring the other at his father's grave.

It took several days for Qi Shuliang to slowly recover.

His father is gone, so he must take good care of the family and provide for his mother, wife, and children.

The siblings Qi Zhenghan and Qi Zhengmin have been running around the mountains and fields with He Tiantian these past two days, picking wild fruits, gathering mushrooms, digging traps, and catching prey. They've been having a very exciting time every day.

Qi Zhengmin was so happy that he forgot all about home.

At this moment, Qi Zhengmin was holding a fish skewered on a tree branch and roasting it over a fire.

These are freshly caught fish, very fresh.

He Tiantian carried some seasonings with her, and after cleaning the fish, she started to roast it over the fire.

"Sister Tian, ​​it's so much fun up in the mountains," Qi Zhengmin said. "I don't want to go back, brother. You and Mom and Dad go back in a while, I'll stay here."

Qi Zhenghan smiled and said, "Aren't you studying anymore?"

“Sister Tiantian didn’t go to school either,” Qi Zhengmin said. “Anyway, I think it’s pretty good here. Although it’s simple, it’s very interesting. Every day I can go up the mountain, pick fruit, catch fish, and catch rabbits. It’s much better than dancing and studying at school.”

"Hehe, anyway, Mom won't agree." Qi Zhenghan shrugged, not taking it seriously.

He Tiantian smiled and said, "Zhengmin, you've just arrived and you think this place is interesting. But after a while, you won't like it anymore. Look at those girls over there, they have to go up the mountain every day to pick fruit and gather dried goods to supplement their family income. Even if you don't have to do any work, you'll still get bored doing that every day."

"I don't care, I like it right now," Qi Zhengmin said. "By the way, Sister Tiantian, shouldn't we go check if there's any prey in the trap next?"

“Yes,” He Tiantian said, “If there is, we’ll have an extra meal tonight.”

I'm lucky today; there are two rabbits in the trap. I can stew rabbit meat for dinner tonight.

Qi Zhenghan also enjoyed this activity. Each time, he would tie a rope around his waist, go into the trap, and take out the prey.

Qi Zhengmin skipped and hopped in front, while He Tiantian and Qi Zhenghan walked behind.

"Do you want to go back?" He Tiantian asked. Qi Zhenghan was past the age of being playful.

Qi Zhenghan looked around, thought for a moment, and said, "The scenery here is beautiful, but it's fine for occasional trips, but not for long-term stays. I still prefer life in New York."

Qi Zhenghan is very straightforward!

He Tiantian could understand; if she hadn't spent many years here in her previous life, she wouldn't be used to it either.

“Yes, you belong to a big city like New York,” He Tiantian said. “Let’s leave the mountains and rivers here to those of us who are used to it.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Zhenghan frowned. He had previously told He Tiantian that he hoped she would stay in New York, but He Tiantian refused.

Later, He Tiantian recognized her grandmother Bai Qiongyu. As Bai Qiongyu's sole heir, He Tiantian should stay by her grandmother's side, since Bai Qiongyu has many businesses that need to be inherited and managed.

"Aren't you going back?" Qi Zhenghan asked. "Your grandmother is in New York, so why are you still staying here?"

Qi Zhenghan didn't want to hear the answer he was guessing.

He Tiantian smiled and said, "Things aren't as simple as you think. It's like you prefer New York, while I prefer China."

After He Tiantian finished speaking, she went to chase after Qi Zhengmin.

Qi Zhenghan grabbed He Tiantian's hand and said, "Although I know you have someone you like, it's immoral to say these things to you, but I still want to say, Tiantian, don't you think we're a perfect match in terms of age, appearance, and family background?"

"Huh?" He Tiantian was surprised, then smiled and said, "We were never meant to be together. I treat you like a brother, nothing more. You're a gentleman, you'll know how to behave in the future. Now, can you let go of my hand?" (To be continued.)