Chapter 144 Life in Xiangyang Village is Getting Better

Xia Qianqian chuckled when she saw him shrink back in fright, and didn't press him further: "Alright, next time I enter Peach Blossom Spring, we'll catch seafood for a treat, and I guarantee you'll get your money's worth."

Old Hei finally breathed a sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly.

Judging that the time was about right, Xia Qianqian appeared out of thin air in the passenger seat.

Lu Zheng paused on the steering wheel and turned to look at her: "Why didn't you stay a little longer?" There was a hint of surprise in his eyes. "I was thinking of driving through the night tonight and heading straight back to Wangyang Village."

“Driving at night is tiring.” Xia Qianqian reached out and rubbed his arm. “We’re not in a hurry. Let’s go in, have a meal, and get a good night’s rest. We can leave tomorrow morning.”

She said excitedly, "Stop the car, I'll show you something good!"

Looking into her bright eyes, Lu Zheng smiled helplessly yet indulgently, then turned the steering wheel and parked the car in a secluded spot by the roadside. There was no village or shop in sight, and the weeds were knee-high, so there was no need to worry about being seen.

Xia Qianqian's thoughts stirred, and Lu Zheng felt a blur of light and shadow before his eyes. The next second, he was standing on soft green grass, and the sound of waves crashing on the shore filled his ears. He looked up abruptly, his pupils shrinking sharply—

Is this still the village with small hills that I remember?

A clear blue coastline stretches endlessly into the distance, with white waves crashing against black reefs. Seagulls circle in the distance, and the sea breeze carries a salty, damp scent.

Behind me were familiar wooden houses and streams, but in front of me was... a vast ocean?

“This is…” Lu Zheng was speechless.

He strode to the edge of the cliff, looked at the surging blue waves, and thought to himself: This Peach Blossom Spring can actually grow on its own.

Seeing his shocked expression, Xia Qianqian couldn't help but raise her chin, her eyes full of smug smile: "Impressive, isn't it?"

She walked over to him, kicked a pebble at her feet, and said, "Do you think if we bring in some more cattle and sheep, we could create another grassland?"

Lu Zheng turned to look at her, his gaze deep: "You mean... the space of Peach Blossom Spring will expand with the introduction of new species?"

"Mmm!" Xia Qianqian nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling. "Last time we transplanted medicinal herbs, and we gained a hill; this time we brought seafood, and we gained a sea! See, you guessed it right away without me even having to say anything!"

She tiptoed and quickly kissed him on the cheek, like a kitten that had successfully stolen some cream. "Lu Zheng, you're so clever!"

Lu Zheng's ears turned slightly red. He reached out and put his arm around her waist. Gazing at the azure sea, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up—his Qianqian always brought him surprises.

Xia Qianqian leaned gently against Lu Zheng's shoulder, the refreshing scent of soap wafting from him lingering in her nostrils. Gazing at the shimmering waves in the distance, her voice carried a soft, longing tone: "Why don't we just stay here?"

She grasped Lu Zheng's hand: "Look here, there are mountains and rivers, we have no worries about food and clothing, and we live a peaceful and stable life. Isn't that better than living in constant fear outside?"

Lu Zheng's gaze swept across the azure sea, a deep undercurrent flashing in his eyes. Those unresolved grudges, those eyes lurking in the shadows, how could they be let go so easily?

He quickly composed himself, softening his voice and gently stroking the top of her head with his fingertips: "Sweetie, wait a little longer."

He lowered his head, forehead to forehead, his voice carrying a barely perceptible heaviness, "Once I've sorted out all those troublesome things, no one will be able to bother us anymore... Then, let's stay by this sea, cultivate a few acres of land, and raise a flock of chickens and ducks, okay?"

Xia Qianqian's heart trembled at the seriousness in his eyes, and she nodded vigorously: "Okay!" She raised her hand to hook his neck and rubbed her nose against his chin, "Then you can't lie to me."

"I'm not lying to you." Lu Zheng chuckled, pinching her cheek, but his eyes held a complex emotion she couldn't decipher.

He will repay her the stability he owes her one day, with interest.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated when Xia Qianqian and Lu Zheng left Peach Blossom Spring and stood side by side beside the jeep.

Lu Zheng checked the car and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the tires and fuel tank were fine. He then turned to Xia Qianqian and said, "You go back to Peach Blossom Spring and rest. I can drive for a day."

Xia Qianqian shook her head: "I'm not going back. Let's talk about business on the way."

She leaned against the car door, gazing at the tree shadows in the morning mist, and said, "I was thinking about this at dinner yesterday. The few of us definitely won't be enough to supply Brother Liu. There's a 'front' in the production area of ​​Peach Blossom Spring, and the villagers might be able to help."

Lu Zheng paused, his brows furrowing slightly: "Aren't you afraid they'll leak the secret?"

“It’s not about letting them know about Peach Blossom Spring,” Xia Qianqian explained. “We’ll just say that we found a secret base in the mountains.”

Lu Zheng was silent for a moment, looking at the winding mountain road, his voice becoming a bit deeper: "But now it's a commune system, and the production teams are very strict. Private plots are distributed according to the number of people, so where would a 'secret base' come from? If we really want to do it, we can only secretly pick a few trustworthy and honest people to work at the 'base' at night and go to work as usual during the day. Otherwise, if the team leader finds out, we'll inevitably be labeled as 'following the capitalist tail'."

Xia Qianqian was already prepared and nodded, saying, "I know it will be difficult. But life is hard in the village, and many families can barely afford salt. If we help them earn some pocket money, at least the children can have a few more full meals."

Lu Zheng looked into the light in her eyes, a warmth he knew all too well, a warmth he couldn't hide.

Even though he had just settled into a stable life, he was always thinking of helping others. He sighed helplessly and soft-heartedly, reaching out to ruffle her hair: "Okay, we'll do it your way, but the selection of people will have to be left to me."

Xia Qianqian's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she nodded with a smile: "That's what I was thinking too! I'll clear the trees and weeds from the back mountain to Peach Blossom Spring."

Lu Zheng spoke succinctly, tapping his fingertips lightly on the steering wheel, "I'll pick a few people who are tight-lipped and quick-witted to come find you."

Back in Xiangyang Village, the two immediately split up. Xia Qianqian had just finished clearing the open space and was wondering how to explain this "suddenly appeared base" to the villagers when she heard a rustling sound of footsteps behind her.

It wasn't the commotion of just one or two people, but rather... a group of people?

She turned around abruptly and saw a dozen or so people approaching in the shadows on the mountain path.

Xia Qianqian was stunned when she saw the huge procession. She had thought that Lu Zheng would only bring three or five people at most, but she did not expect so many to come!

"Where's Lu Zheng?" she asked instinctively.

"Brother Lu went to the commune and told us to come and listen to your instructions!" a short man answered eagerly.

He opened his mouth again and asked, "I heard there's money for working? Is that true?"

Looking at the simple and hopeful faces, Xia Qianqian felt both warm and bittersweet. The villagers were living such a hard life. Even just the words "there is money to be made" were enough to make them run such a long way through the mountains late at night after a long day.

She took a deep breath and smiled, "Of course it's true! But this work has to be done behind the team's back, are you all willing?"

"Of course we'd! Why wouldn't we?" everyone echoed in unison.