Chapter 36 Jinjiang's Exclusive Meddling
"I won't sell! I won't sell! I'd rather give it away than sell it! Get out, get out of my house!"
"Hey, you old man, don't be ungrateful..."
Two men were chased out by an old man with a broom, which blocked Su Ruyi's path.
"Old man Li, we're just trying to help you out of kindness. We don't want to see you lose your last grandson. Don't be ungrateful," the tall man said disapprovingly.
Old Li got even angrier: "Bah! I'm telling you, if you want my house, you'll have to step over my dead body!"
The short man said, "Old Li, you don't know what's good for you. Don't come crying to us later, saying we're bullying the elderly."
"I'd rather die than beg you bastards! You're a bunch of scoundrels, don't even think about swindling my house away!"
The two men didn't linger any longer, muttering curses as they left. As they passed Su Ruyi, the shorter man muttered:
"Let's see how long this old man can keep up his stubbornness. I don't know who else but us would dare to buy this house."
Many people nearby peeked out to see what was happening, but no one came over.
Although Su Ruyi was curious, she didn't pay much attention. Just as she was about to pass by, she saw the old man who had been wielding the broom so skillfully was now clutching his chest, leaning against the door, breathing heavily, and his face was getting paler and paler.
Su Ruyi quickly ran over and helped him up: "Grandpa, are you alright?"
"Medicine, medicine..."
Old Li's face grew increasingly pale, his words sounded like they were being squeezed out from between his teeth, and he went limp, only managing to stay upright thanks to Su Ruyi.
Where is the medicine?
Old Li pointed tremblingly into the room: "Drawer..."
While calling for help, Su Ruyi picked up the old man and ran straight into the house.
Su Ruyi originally wanted to ask which drawer it was in, but once she entered the room, she realized she didn't need to ask; there was only one table with drawers in the room.
Su Ruyi placed Old Li on a chair and quickly opened all three drawers of the table, soon finding a bottle of nitroglycerin pills.
She quickly took out a few pills and stuffed them into Old Li's mouth, then picked up the old teapot on the table and poured it directly into Old Li's mouth.
After the chaos subsided, Old Li's complexion gradually returned to normal, and his heartbeat also stabilized.
"Thank you, young lady." Old Li's breathing gradually slowed down.
"It's alright, I just happened to be there. I'm glad you're okay. But just to be on the safe side, you should still go to the hospital to get checked out."
Old Li nodded, but his expression clearly indicated he was just going through the motions.
Su Ruyi didn't say much. Everyone knows that seeing a doctor early can prevent bigger problems, but when the family has no money, they simply don't have the courage to go to the hospital. They unconsciously deceive themselves, thinking that as long as the tests don't find anything wrong, they'll be fine, clinging to a sliver of hope.
Many people have thus developed minor illnesses into major ones. It's not that these people are unreasonable, but rather that they can't even afford to treat minor illnesses.
Old Li's house looks quite spacious, but it's very old and dilapidated, and the interior is practically bare.
My ancestors were quite well off; they had a detached house in the county town, a rather remote location, but that was still pretty good. Now, things are clearly not like that anymore.
Su Ruyi recalled what she had just heard: the old man's grandson was sick and might fall into poverty because of his illness.
"Keep your medicine with you from now on, so that if something like this happens again, you can have it to tide you over."
"Oh, I'll remember that, thank you, young lady." Old Li kept thanking her. Once he had recovered, he was about to stand up. "Young lady, I don't have anything to thank you for. My peaches are ripe, let me get you some to eat."
Su Ruyi quickly stopped him: "Grandpa, please don't move. Please sit down and rest."
Seeing that the old man insisted on giving her something as a token of his gratitude, Su Ruyi said:
"Don't move, I'll pick it myself."
"I'm fine. I'm usually very healthy. I just had a sudden difficulty catching my breath."
"No need for you, I can do it myself. I grew up in the countryside and I'm best at picking fruit."
The peach tree in the yard was very tall, taller than the house, and its canopy blocked half of the light from the main house.
The peaches at the bottom have been mostly picked, but the ones at the top are barely touched. They look bright red and very tempting.
The fruit at the top of the tree is already naturally ripe, but no one has picked it, so it's still hanging high up.
"Uncle Li, are you alright?"
Just as Su Ruyi was about to climb the tree, a woman in her forties hurriedly walked in.
"I just heard that Peng Zhiyong is causing trouble again..."
The woman was not tall, probably only a little over 1.5 meters, and had a rather stocky build. Her round face made her look very kind.
She paused slightly when she saw Su Ruyi, looking her up and down: "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Hearing the noise, Old Li slowly walked out of the house.
"Oh, it's Xiao Liu. I wasn't feeling well earlier, and this young lady led me inside and helped me find medicine."
Old Li felt a little embarrassed when he thought about how Su Ruyi had just picked him up.
"Oh, I see. What a kind girl. She seems to have a warm heart."
Liu Xiuzhi said with a smile, her face showing a dimple that made her look very endearing.
Her gaze quickly swept past Su Ruyi and turned to Old Li, saying:
“Uncle Li, don’t pay any attention to Peng Zhiyong. I don’t believe he can act with impunity. He can’t just say he’ll pay whatever price he wants for the house. Who does he think he is? When my wife comes back, we’ll talk to him. We’ve been neighbors for so many years, how can he take advantage of our misfortune?”
Old Li didn't say a word, his face full of worry.
Liu Xiuzhi sighed as well: "How is Xiaobao doing? I've been busy these past few days and haven't had much time to visit him. Your aunt is at the hospital with him now."
"Um."
Old Li's voice was muffled. He habitually reached for his pipe, but only after his hand was fully extended did he remember that he had long since quit smoking and sold his pipe.
"Uncle Li, you know our family's situation. Our child is growing up and needs to get married, so we're a bit strapped for cash. This isn't much money, but you can take it and use it to buy some nutritional supplements for Xiaobao."
Liu Xiuzhi took out a handful of money from her pocket, including five-yuan, two-yuan, and ten-cent coins, and stuffed them into Old Li's arms.
"I can't accept this money!" Old Li quickly pushed it back.
“I’m giving this to Xiaobao, not to you. We’ve been neighbors for so many years. As his aunt, it would be unreasonable for me not to buy something for the child.”
The two men shoved each other for a while, but Old Li finally accepted the money. He clutched the money tightly in his hand, his eyes were red, and he could hardly squeeze out the word "thank you."
"So many years have passed in the blink of an eye, and your three boys have all grown up so much."
"That's right. It feels like I just gave birth to them yesterday, and now even the third son is old enough to get married."
Do you both have partners yet?
Liu Xiuzhi sighed: "The eldest son has settled down and we finally managed to squeeze out a room. The second son has a girlfriend, but he has nowhere to live after getting married. As for the third son, many girls were interested in him when he went on blind dates, but as soon as they saw our house, they turned around and left."
Girls these days aren't like we were back then, where we could just make do and live a lifetime together. Now, aside from dowries, they also demand a house. But thinking about it, after marriage, everyone needs their own place, right?
Old Li kept his head down and remained silent. Liu Xiuzhi pursed her lips and left without lingering for long.
"Uncle Li, if you need anything, just come to Zhigang. We've been neighbors for so many years, don't be shy."
Before leaving, Liu Xiuzhi glanced at Su Ruyi, smiled at her, and then left.
"Sir, I'll head back now. Please take good care of yourself."
Su Ruyi had wanted to leave for a long time, but Liu Xiuzhi kept talking so much that she couldn't find a chance to say that she wanted to leave.
"Don't rush, the peaches haven't been picked yet," Old Li quickly called out to her.
Su Ruyi noticed that Old Li seemed preoccupied and slow to react to anything Liu Xiuzhi said, so she thought he had forgotten about it.
"Those peaches are hard to pick. I used to use a pole to twist them off one by one, but now I have a lot of things to do and don't have time for that. If you can pick them, then take them. It would be a waste if they were ripe and fell to the ground."
Old Li used to tie a small basket to a long pole, then put the peaches in it one by one and twist them off.
That's a slow method, but it still allows you to pick peaches from higher places.
Anyway, he wasn't in a hurry. He could pick them all eventually, and picking a little each day to sell would be just right. But now he didn't have that free time.
Su Ruyi looked up at the tall peach tree and said, "Okay, I'll pick them."
In every life, Su Ruyi was good at climbing trees when she was a child. This peach tree was also quite well-behaved, with its branches growing just right, making it easy to climb.
So Su Ruyi and Old Li took a basket and carried it on their backs to climb the tree. At first, they were a little clumsy, but they quickly got the hang of it and made it up in no time.
Su Ruyi felt a great sense of accomplishment; the feeling of standing on the tree and feeling the breeze was quite nice.
"Be careful, if you can't get it, then don't take it."
"Grandpa, don't worry, the trees I've climbed since I was a child could circle the earth."
Although Su Ruyi said that, she was actually very careful, standing only on the thick branches and holding on firmly.
The peach tree was very productive, producing a lot of fruit. Su Ruyi filled her basket in no time, and she still hadn't had enough.
Su Ruyi climbed down from the peach tree and placed a full basket of peaches on the ground.
"Grandpa, shall I pick two more baskets for you? Some of them can't be stored any longer. We can pick them and sell them directly. Even if we sell them cheaply, it's better than letting them rot."
"this……"
Old Li was very tempted; having experienced famine, he couldn't bear to see waste.
"This is too much trouble for you."
“It’s no trouble at all, I think it’s fun. My home is in the mountains of the south, there are trees everywhere, and I usually like to climb trees. You can’t see many trees here, so this is a good opportunity to satisfy my craving.”
Old Li knew perfectly well that Su Ruyi was deliberately flattering him, and in the end, he didn't say anything against it.
Su Ruyi asked Old Li to find a long rope. She picked a basketful, then used the rope to lower it down, so she wouldn't have to carry each basket down herself.
She only picked the ripest ones, leaving the rest untouched.
Su Ruyi picked the biggest, reddest, and juiciest peach from the tree and ate it. The peach was ripe and soft, and the skin could be easily peeled off.
"Grandpa, your peaches are absolutely amazing! They're so delicious!"
With a gentle bite, the juice bursts in your mouth; it's so juicy and sweet, even better than the peaches Su Ruyi used to buy for ten yuan or so.
Old Li rarely smiled: "This peach tree of mine has quite a history. No peaches in the entire Liulin County taste better than ours. My two grandsons love them, especially my younger grandson..."
Old Li suddenly stopped speaking, and Su Ruyi saw it clearly: the old man began to wipe away tears.
Su Ruyi assumed he was referring to the grandson at the hospital and comforted him:
"Grandpa, your grandson will get better soon. I'll pick the sweetest peaches, and you can take them to the hospital for him later."
These words did not comfort the old man; instead, he became even more upset. He shakily found a stool and sat down, looking utterly dejected.
Su Ruyi sighed. It seemed the child's condition was very bad. Although they were strangers, Su Ruyi felt down.
She had just observed the house and felt that there were no traces of life from Old Li's son's generation.
Moreover, based on the conversation between Old Li and Liu Xiuzhi, there doesn't seem to be any information about the second generation who should be at the top of the family business.
Su Ruyi didn't know the specifics and didn't want to ask too many questions. If the family consisted only of the elderly and children, it would be even more difficult for them.
Su Ruyi stopped picking after picking only three baskets. She specifically chose the ripe peaches and didn't rush to pick the ones that could still hang on for a while.
"Grandpa, where do you usually set up your stall? I can carry it over for you."
This alley is all residential area with few shops and not much foot traffic. It's getting late, and we definitely won't be able to sell everything here.
Su Ruyi has already helped this far, so she might as well go all the way.
"No need, no need, you can take them all home to eat."
Su Ruyi: "Grandpa, please don't keep pushing me around. There are only a few people in my family, how can we eat so many? Besides, I can't carry so many back by myself. It's getting late now, and my home is far away. I can't keep running back and forth for these peaches that I can't finish eating."
"But……"
"Grandpa, don't be so polite. Just hurry up! If you're late, these won't sell and they'll spoil tomorrow."
Old Li: "That place is far away, and these are too heavy. We need to find a vehicle."
"No need, I can handle it by myself."
Su Ruyi carried one on her back and another in each hand, asking Old Li to lead the way.
Old Li was shocked. He knew Su Ruyi was strong, but he didn't expect her to be this strong.
This basket is very big, and the peaches are heavy, so a basket must weigh at least seventy or eighty pounds.
The claim that it can't be taken back is simply untrue.
Old Li knew perfectly well that the young girl was kind-hearted, so he didn't say anything more and led Su Ruyi to a crossroads.
"Just leave your things here," Old Li said, pointing to the entrance of a steamed bun shop.
As soon as Old Li appeared, the owner of the steamed bun shop came out.
"Uncle Li, you've finally arrived! Several groups of customers have asked me why the peach seller didn't come; they've been waiting for your peaches. My child has been talking about you every day. Is Xiaobao feeling better?"
Old Li: "It's good, it's good."
People were coming and going here. As soon as Su Ruyi put the peaches down, people gathered around.
"Grandpa, could you please bring me five jin? I've been waiting for you to set up your stall for ages."
"Grandpa, is this your granddaughter? I remember you only have grandsons, and your daughter isn't this young."
Old Li was clearly well-acquainted with the area; everyone greeted him.
Old Li: "Yes, she's the child of a distant relative of mine. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have been able to transport all these peaches."
“You should have asked for help a long time ago. It’s just the two of you in your family, and you only transport such a small amount each time. It’s not even enough for us regular customers to share.”
Seeing that she didn't need to help, Su Ruyi said goodbye to Old Li.
Old Li quickly stopped her, not only stuffing her with a basket of peaches, but also taking a basket of meat buns from the bun shop, insisting that Su Ruyi take them.
Su Ruyi didn't want to push things around in the street, so she accepted them all.
"Grandpa, I'll come back tomorrow to help you pick peaches again."
When Su Ruyi returned home, Tong Yunyun, who has the sharpest eyes, saw the peach and exclaimed "Wow!"
"What huge peaches!"
In Liulin County, peaches are usually small and mostly crisp; large, juicy peaches like this are not common.
Su Ruyi took one and handed it over: "Try it, it tastes especially good."
Li Mei looked over and couldn't help but frown:
"Why did you buy steamed buns? It's tastier and cheaper to make them yourself. Don't waste your money."
Su Ruyi then told everyone about what happened that day, and when Tong Yunyun heard that she was going to pick peaches again tomorrow, she also clamored to go with her.
"Okay, I'll take you there, but you have to be obedient."
Tong Yunyun nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Li Mei sighed, "If it's come to the point where we have to sell the house, I'm afraid the child is seriously ill."
In the county, those detached houses with their own courtyards are all old family-owned houses, and unless they are spendthrifts, most people would not sell them.
Even if the descendants move to big cities, the ancestral home must be preserved.
I wouldn't have even considered this if I hadn't been desperate.
After selling the house, there's nowhere to live anymore. Renting a house is quite rare in a small county town.
Wang Huizhen frowned: "They've already gone to such lengths, how can anyone still deliberately try to drive down the price? How can these people be like this?"
Although Su Ruyi only heard some snippets, everyone could roughly guess what was going on.
Li Mei empathized deeply, having encountered far too many similar situations. Not to mention distant ones, ever since Tong Aihua passed away, many people have been eyeing their family.
If Su Ruyi hadn't come, she would still be arguing with the Tong family.
"If there's anything we can help with over there, we'll do our best to help, even if it's just lending a hand."
Wang Huiting sighed, "It's a pity I don't have the money. If I did, I would buy that house. It's such a big house with a yard and a peach tree. Just thinking about it makes me feel so good."
Although I've never been there, just hearing Su Ruyi say that makes me think it sounds pretty good.
Besides, even if it's not good, it's still better than where they live now. People used to want to live in apartment buildings, but once they actually moved in, they realized how inconvenient it was.
These buildings are very poorly soundproofed; if one apartment makes a noise, the whole building can hear it.
Their house is an end unit, which seems more convenient than a middle unit because it can enclose the front corridor, but in reality, it also has many disadvantages.
The exterior waterproofing wasn't done well, and since their house faces east, rainwater washes over it, causing leaks during the summer rainy season.
Fortunately, they don't get too much rain, otherwise the house would be uninhabitable. But every time it rains, it's a real ordeal for them.
The west-facing rooms get especially hot, like a sauna on this kind of day. The bed is against the wall, and the whole bed gets warm.
Not to mention how cramped it must be for so many people in their family to live in one room.
Wang Huiting has wanted her own room since she was a child, just like her friends Lu Qiuyu and Zhang Yao, who both have their own rooms.
Although the room wasn't big, it was still my own territory.
Su Ruyi was also very tempted upon hearing this.
Old Li's house is indeed quite nice. Although it's a bit messy and old, probably because he's been busy, it would be very comfortable to live in with just a little repair.
Moreover, there is not only a main house, but also east and west wing rooms, which all look quite spacious.
However, she was only tempted for a moment. Such a big house must be expensive, so Su Ruyi never even considered it today.
Even if she were to buy a house, she wouldn't spend a lot of money to buy one in the county town; she would definitely go to a big city like the provincial capital.
This is just a transitional phase. After a while, once she has earned her first pot of gold and proven to her mother that she is capable, she will apply to go to the city to make her way in the world.
Ms. Su Ying wouldn't let her stay here indefinitely. If she's going to develop her career in a small county town, she might as well go back to her hometown.
It's just to have her keep order for a while, so her father can rest in peace. Once things are settled here, she can leave.
Li Mei: "You really have wild ideas. We should be grateful that our family has a house like this now."
"Mom, just you wait, I'm sure I'll make a lot of money."
"I'd rather believe a sow can fly than believe you."
Hearing this, Wang Huiting stomped her feet in anger.
"Mom, you're underestimating us. Ask my sister how good our business is today."
Although Li Mei knew that Wang Huiting and Su Ruyi had made a lot of money in the province, it was the provincial capital, which was different from a small county town, so she didn't have high hopes.
When she saw so much stock, she wondered when she would be able to sell it all.
However, considering that he had only given Wang Huiting a few dozen yuan, which he had already earned back, he didn't say anything more.
After all, Su Ruyi is also involved, and if she, as the stepmother, talks too much, she might give Su Ruyi other ideas.
How good can it be?
"Sister, you tell us!"
Wang Huizhen: "Mom, we all underestimated Tingting. We earned almost a hundred yuan today!"
Although it's much less than in the provincial capital, and each person only gets a few dozen yuan, this income is still quite considerable in the county.
"So many?" Li Mei was astonished.
Wang Huiting said smugly, "Hmph, no one knows I have good stuff here today. Just you wait and see, it will definitely sell even better tomorrow."
Li Mei's worldview was once again shaken: "Are self-employed individuals really that profitable?"
Wang Huiting: "Of course, Mom! I told you before that you should set up a food stall, it would earn you more than doing temporary work, and you scolded me for it!"
Although it has been open for more than ten years, being a self-employed individual still has a bad reputation in Liulin County.
Li Mei, in particular, had always lived in a workplace and looked down on self-employed individuals, taking great pride in having a secure job.
Although Li Mei was only a temporary worker, she still felt it was better than being self-employed, since it was a legitimate job, and who knows, she might be able to become a permanent employee someday.
Besides, if you lose money in business, you're finished. Temporary workers may work harder, and sometimes there's no work or money, but they won't necessarily lose money.
Li Mei is a typical example of the traditional Chinese mindset of men being the breadwinners and women staying at home. Asking her to take on the main responsibility of setting up a food stall not only made her feel ashamed but also made her feel that she couldn't do it.
“If I sell food with this skill, who would buy it? You’re always overthinking things.”
"Why isn't anyone buying it! I used to take the breakfast you made to school and even sold it for money..."
Wang Huiting's eyes widened. Oh no, she had blurted out her secret in a moment of carelessness.
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