"Sister-in-law Shufen, where have you been? You're all soaked."

"Sister-in-law, come here, let me fan you."

In front of the first row of houses in the family compound, five or six women were sitting under a birch tree, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans to cool off.

Seeing that Wang Shufen was soaked, everyone asked her questions out of curiosity.

"My sister and I spent the whole morning at the quail farm picking quail eggs; it was so hot inside."

Wang Shufen strode over and stood in the shade of the tree, finally feeling more comfortable.

"What? Sister-in-law Shufen, the breeding farm is already incubating eggs? So soon?"

Zhao Guilan paused, her hand holding the palm-leaf fan still.

She had never been optimistic about the farm, but now, looking at it, it seemed like they were really going to start.

"Wow, it seems that our guild's breeding farm is really going to be a success. They've already started incubating eggs, and the first batch of baby quails should hatch next month."

"Yes, Xiao Lu can't manage all this by himself, can he? Perhaps..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the women next to her understood, and everyone immediately became eager to join in.

Since I'm just idling around anyway, it would be a good thing if I could earn some money to help support my family.

"They've only just started hatching the eggs, and the sheds haven't even been built yet. There will be many difficulties ahead. This isn't something that was supported by higher authorities. I think this farm is in jeopardy. Let's wait and see."

Zhao Guilan pursed her lips, habitually expressing her skepticism.

Upon hearing this, the women around him hesitated.

That's true, it's still early. It's so hot right now, let's wait a few months before talking about it.

Wang Shufen shook her head, turned around and left.

The farm will definitely succeed, and it will only get better and better!

...

"But this Lu is really capable. I heard that even the regimental commander praised her, saying that her farm will definitely be a success."

"real?"

“I also heard it from my husband. This Xiao Lu had a small notebook and explained in great detail how to build the farm, how to raise quails, and how to prevent diseases. Otherwise, the regimental commander wouldn’t have let her be the farm manager.”

After Wang Shufen left, the sisters-in-law chatted even more happily.

Recently, the biggest news in the group has been this breeding farm. There are all sorts of rumors circulating, some optimistic and some pessimistic, making it quite a lively scene.

...

As soon as Xiao Ting entered the family compound, she heard the women's wives talking.

A thought struck her, and she quickly walked behind the crowd to listen quietly.

"If Xiao Lu, the farm manager, can really do a good job, he'll become a formal cadre in the future."

"What level of cadre is the manager of this farm?"

"It should be at least level 20, a company-level officer, maybe even higher..."

Xiao Ting clenched her hands tightly, her face contorted in pain.

Thinking back on these days, she cooked at home every day, served Xu Jinbu by washing his feet, and had to endure his cold words.

Lu Fangfang, through Zhuang Mingcheng's connections, became the manager of the breeding farm and was even promoted to a formal cadre position.

This...this...this is a cadre!

"Pah! What makes her qualified to be a cadre? A migrant worker from the countryside, what right does she have to be a cadre? And a farm manager? Isn't that just because of Mingcheng? Disgusting! This farm is doomed to fail sooner or later!"

"Pah, pah, pah! Wishful thinking! A vagrant can never become a cadre!"

Xiao Ting couldn't hold back and blurted out her true feelings.

The women next to her all turned around and looked at Xiao Ting in surprise.

"Hey, isn't this Xiao Ting, the one who reported us to the investigation team? Why are you eavesdropping on us? Are you going to report us?"

"Even if Xiao Lu is unqualified, he's still better than you, who reports others behind their backs."

"Pah, shameless!"

The sisters-in-law didn't give Xiao Ting a kind look in their eyes.

It's only because the women who were in labor reform haven't come back yet, otherwise they would definitely beat Xiao Ting up to vent their anger.

"You...you all..."

Xiao Ting's face turned pale and then flushed. She pointed at everyone, looking extremely aggrieved.

"My dad got into trouble, and even you guys are kicking me when I'm down. Waaah, you just wait."

She covered her mouth and, amidst the bewildered gazes of her sisters-in-law, turned and ran away.

...

"Commander Zhuang, haven't you eaten yet? Where are you taking this lunchbox?"

"Hey, Commander Zhuang, someone was saying bad things about your Xiao Lu just now, but we chased them away with our words."

"That's right, she's shameless. She said your Xiao Lu isn't qualified to be a farm manager. After we scolded her, she acted aggrieved and even said we were kicking her when she was down."

Zhuang Mingcheng, carrying two lunchboxes, looked at his sisters-in-law who were enjoying the cool air with surprise.

After hesitating for a moment, he didn't ask any further questions, just gave a casual reply and left.

When they arrived at the breeding farm on the riverbank, he went to the incubation room, called out to his wife, and found a shady spot to sit down.

Seeing that his wife was in a good mood, he briefly recounted what he had just heard.

"Don't worry about it, let them say what they want. They can't just shut their mouths."

Lu Fangfang takes such things in stride and doesn't dwell on them.

She doesn't have time to bother with these petty arguments right now.

Zhuang Mingcheng frowned, still somewhat displeased. "You go ahead and handle the farm business. I'll investigate this matter."

He took off the military water bottle from his neck and handed it to his wife, saying, "I just collected some birch sap; have a sip before you eat."

Lu Fangfang tilted her head back and took a big gulp, feeling refreshed all over.

Today's lunch was made by Zhuang Mingcheng. One lunchbox contained steamed rice, and the other contained stewed potatoes and quail eggs. It looked very appetizing.

She was hungry after a busy morning.

She poured potato juice over rice, picked up her lunchbox, and started eating.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!