The issue of seed prices suddenly became a major problem. Zhang Guodong asked for 30,000 yuan per kilogram, claiming it was a discounted price, and wouldn't budge. Zhao Sanshun came several times to persuade and communicate, but to no avail.
“One pound of medicinal herb seeds is more than enough to plant ten acres, with a germination rate guaranteed to be over 90%. My price is already very fair! Besides, this precious medicinal herb will only be available in Zhangba Township in the future, so everyone's future income will be solely from it. I won't budge on this point!” Zhang Guodong said this to everyone. “If that doesn't work, let's sign an agreement. If it's one pound per ten acres, and there are less than three thousand sprouts per acre, I won't charge you a penny. If there are more than three thousand sprouts, it'll be forty thousand yuan per pound!”
These words shocked everyone even more. This was a huge gamble! Forty thousand yuan per kilogram—that was an astronomical price! Many people privately said that Zhang Guodong was obsessed with money. He was actually asking for an exorbitant price! However, no one dared to gamble like that.
But this price is simply outrageous. Naturally, many people have complaints about Zhang Guodong.
Despite his opinions, Zhang Guodong remained unfazed. He simply enjoyed the environment of Taoyuan Xiaozhu and didn't expect any deep interaction with the villagers of Jixing Village. Besides, he knew his own property well; the price wasn't low, but it wasn't excessively high either.
The fat man, standing in the middle, was parched. He raised the price of the seeds to 2,300, but this was still a huge difference from the price offered by Zhang Guodong.
"That Zhang guy is really something. I used to think he was a good person, but why did he do such a shady thing this time? Does he even have medicinal herb seeds worth 30,000 or 40,000 yuan per kilogram?" At Zhao Sanshun's house, villager Zhao Xifeng and Zhao Sanshun's husband were talking, Zhao Xifeng saying indignantly. "If you ask me, Auntie, Uncle shouldn't have brought this guy in in the first place. Look at him now, everyone's crops are ruined, and all our hopes are dashed. What kind of nonsense is this!"
Zhao Xifeng also shares the surname Zhao, but she is not related to Zhao Sanshun by blood; she simply married into the village. Her husband, Zhao De, owns a shop in the district, but business isn't very good.
Aunt Zhao also knew about this matter; she had heard many people mention it recently. However, being a woman, she generally didn't interfere in village affairs. Zhao Sanshun also rarely discussed official matters with her.
"Xifeng, you know your third uncle, my words don't carry any weight—" Aunt Zhao was virtuous and kind, but not stupid. Zhao Xifeng came and went. Aunt Zhao understood perfectly well, but she didn't want to get involved.
“Third Aunt, you’re being modest, aren’t you? My third uncle wouldn’t listen, so I just wouldn’t let him sleep with me!” Zhao Xifeng said bluntly. “At home, women listen to men; outside, men listen to women. I can’t control my husband Zhao De outside, but at home, I’m the boss!”
These words made Aunt Zhao blush deeply. It was indeed embarrassing for the younger generation to talk about such trivial matters between husband and wife. Zhao Xifeng had a big mouth; she dared to say anything and make any kind of joke.
"No respect for elders!" The two were talking when a woman's voice came from outside the door. Lan Hua entered. Hearing that Zhao Xifeng was actually stirring up trouble in her third uncle's family, her face immediately turned cold.
"Oh, it's Lan Hua, girl. Who are you calling disrespectful? Went on a blind date, huh? Didn't work out again? Let me tell you, lower your standards a bit. Just marry someone who's not missing any limbs. Can a woman live alone for the rest of her life?" Zhao Xifeng's words were laced with sarcasm, her insults sharp and uncompromising. "Young ones won't do, and even older ones, as long as they're passable, it'll be fine!"
Aunt Zhao was also somewhat displeased upon hearing this. However, she couldn't win an argument with Zhao Xifeng.
"You're so shameless! You've come all the way to my third uncle's house to sow discord? If you're so capable, why don't you go and talk to them yourself? I've heard you've been running around like crazy lately, coming in here and there in the middle of the night, without any shame. Zhao Deza married such a shameless woman, we should really talk to him about it!" Lan Hua was no ordinary person either, and she immediately retorted.
The words were so vicious that Zhao Xifeng's face turned pale with anger.
She did go into someone's house, but she contracted their land. That woman is very shrewd. Things the government promotes with great fanfare are usually good things. It's a vanity project for officials; how can they not give the farmers some benefits?
Zhao Xifeng naturally had a plan: to contract a few more acres of land, specifically targeting the homes of single men. But little did she know, Lan Hua had seen it all.
"You!" Zhao Xifeng felt uneasy when she heard Lan Hua was going to tell Zhao De. Although she hadn't actually cheated, given Lan Hua's character, a little flirtation was possible. If her man found out, he would definitely not let her off the hook. Being cuckolded was a very serious matter.
"Alright, we're all from the same village, what's all the arguing about? Lanhua, didn't you go to the township with your third uncle? Why did you come back alone?" Auntie San spoke up at this moment, temporarily calming the quarrel between the two.
"Third Aunt, a group of people from the village were discussing something, smoking all over the house, but they didn't come to any conclusions. Third Uncle beat me up when I came back!" Lan Hua poured herself a glass of water and said with a frown.
Once the topic shifted, Zhao Xifeng felt she couldn't stay any longer, so she got up to leave. She wasn't a village representative and couldn't make decisions about village affairs.
"Hmph, you slut, no man to fawn over, and your mouth is so venomous. You jinx, you old widow!" Zhao Xifeng thought to herself, and glared at Lan Hua hatefully before leaving.
“Lanhua, you’ve offended Zhao Xifeng again, sigh—” Auntie San said.
Lan Hua snorted and said, "This woman is flirting with those single men behind Zhao De's back, ruining our village's reputation. So what if we offend her!"
"Third Aunt. Let's not talk about that. I bought some skincare products. Do you think they're okay? They cost me several hundred yuan!"
As she spoke, she pulled several cosmetic boxes from her bag, which looked quite expensive. Aunt Zhao picked one up and looked at that one, grumbling, "Lanhua, isn't this too wasteful? You've spent quite a bit of money lately. You need to save more money for yourself!"
Lan Hua's skin has become noticeably fairer and more supple lately. She's also been getting up so early to exercise, and she's been buying books and cosmetics – she's definitely spent a lot of money.
It's like he's become a completely different person!
"Third Aunt, don't waste it. Women only have a few years of youth. How can you not dress yourself up? Hehe, Third Aunt, if you dress up, my Third Uncle will definitely be very surprised!" Lan Hua said with a smile.
"Nonsense, I'm already in my forties, people would laugh at me if I went out!" Auntie San laughed and scolded. "Lanhua, tell me, do you have a boyfriend? Is he from the city?"
It's no wonder people guess that way; otherwise, it's hard to explain the changes in the blue flower over this period. The fact that country people envy city dwellers' lives hasn't changed, especially among the older generation.
Lan Hua immediately thought of Zhang Guodong, her face flushed, and she said coquettishly, "Third Aunt, where would I get a boyfriend? Besides, I'm not getting married in this life. I'll stay by your side and take care of you and Third Uncle until the end!"
"This child, talking nonsense! You're still young, only in your early thirties, but you look like a woman in her mid-twenties, and you're so pretty and charming, I don't know how many men would want to marry you!" Although Auntie San was pleased to hear this, she didn't want to delay Lan Hua's marriage and scolded her. "Besides, aren't your younger brother and sister Zhao Wen and Wen Li still here? Are you worried that we won't have anyone to take care of you?"
Zhao Wen and Zhao Wenli are Uncle Zhao's son and daughter, respectively. They have both settled down in the city. They are usually busy with work, so they only come back occasionally.
"You're too picky! You need to hurry up and find someone to settle down with. It's harder for a woman to have children once she gets older!" Auntie continued to advise.
This made Lan Hua's ears turn red.
"Oh dear, I forgot something. The township leaders and Uncle San tried calling Zhang Guodong but couldn't get through. I still need to go to Taoyuan Xiaozhu. Aunt San, I have to go now!" Lan Hua suddenly exclaimed, quickly packing up her cosmetics and running out, but then ran back. "Just leave these cosmetics here, I'll get them later!"
Lan Hua was worried that the beautiful women at Peach Blossom Abode would see that she had also bought cosmetics. It's really hard to guess what a woman is thinking!
"This child, he's so grown up, yet he's still so energetic—" Auntie said with a kind smile.
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