Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Chen Ying bit her lower lip,...
Chen Ying bit her lower lip, looked at Geng Yunye expectantly, and said delicately: "Brother Yunye, it's not convenient for me to take a bus to the commune with so many things by myself. Can you give me a ride on your bicycle? My cousin will definitely not mind!"
She said and stuck out her tongue playfully.
Cheng Xin was bending over to tidy up the farm tools that were messed up by the flood. When she heard Yingying acting coquettishly to Geng Yunye, her hands suddenly stopped moving. She subconsciously raised her head to look at him, and her heart inexplicably tightened. She hoped that she was just overthinking.
Geng Yunye's eyebrows were twisted into the shape of a "川" character. He suppressed his impatience, glanced at the busy people, and refused without hesitation: "The brigade is very busy now, and there is a shortage of manpower everywhere. I can't spare time. You can ask Wang Jiangang for help. He has nothing to do anyway, so he can take you to the station."
The smile on Chen Ying's face froze instantly. She quickly adjusted herself and returned to her pitiful look. She said resentfully, "Okay, Brother Yunye, you guys are busy. I'll find a way myself." As she turned and left, the corners of her mouth turned down, and a hint of imperceptible resentment flashed in her eyes.
After Chen Ying left, Cheng Xin and Geng Yunye looked at each other again in the midst of their busy work.
This time, Cheng Xin's gaze stayed on Geng Yunye's face for a moment, then she looked away and pretended to ask casually: "Even Yingying feels safe with your military aura, but won't others think too much if you let Wang Jiangang take Yingying to the station?"
As soon as she said it, she regretted it a little, worried that she seemed to care too much.
Geng Yunye raised the corners of his lips in a happy mood, a hint of mischief flashed in his eyes, and he replied casually: "She and Wang Jiangang have always had a good relationship. Every time I come to your house, I see her sitting in the Wang family yard. I only have business in my eyes, and... you."
After saying that, he looked at Cheng Xin meaningfully, then turned around and continued with the work at hand, leaving Cheng Xin standing there with her cheeks burning and her heart pounding like a little rabbit.
Cheng Xin was finally worried and asked her uncle to help send Chen Ying away.
She carried the thermos from home to the drying yard, where her mother and aunt were sighing over the corn that was soaked by the rain.
The corn piled up like a small hill on the ground carries the hopes of the two families for the year.
Looking inside the makeshift tent, the aunts were huddled together, their eyes full of helplessness and despair.
Cheng Xin felt uncomfortable watching this scene.
She knew that everyone's hard work for a year could not be wasted. But if she helped them deal with the corn, she was afraid that she would be reported for reselling it, which would bring great trouble to herself and her family.
The commune has repeatedly issued orders to crack down on all illegal business activities. Once the sale of corn is deemed to be illegal, the entire brigade will be punished, and the family will not be spared.
Cheng Xin squatted in front of the corn pile, gently turning the accumulated corn, thinking about countermeasures. With so much corn, even buying it all would be a huge project.
I heard Aunt Li sobbing from behind: "If these corns are not dried, we won't have any pig feed in the fall..."
Cheng Xin looked up and saw seven or eight aunts sitting on damp straw mats, bending over and carefully picking out the moldy corn. Their fingers were swollen and pale from being soaked in the flood for a long time.
She was extremely conflicted. Her family had also suffered a disaster, and keeping herself safe seemed to be the safest option, at least to ensure the safety of her family. But on the other hand, seeing the aunts being overwhelmed by life and their sad eyes, she really couldn't bear to do it.
The aunts watched her grow up. When she was young, her parents were busy, and she sat with her brother under a big tree at the entrance of the brigade, listening to the aunts chatting about family matters. Those warm memories seemed to be still in front of her. Although they were not relatives, she could not watch them fall into trouble and remain indifferent.
Cheng Lei walked up to her and said firmly: "Sister, I support you no matter what decision you make."
Cheng Xin looked at her brother. He seemed to have grown up overnight, and there was more determination and responsibility in his eyes.
She reached out and touched her brother's head, and said softly, "Okay, I understand."
Geng Yunye finished the work at hand and strode over to Cheng Xin.
He looked at Cheng Xin's troubled expression and said succinctly, "I understand your concerns. You had good profits from selling corn juice and popcorn before. We can turn it into a collective industry, which can not only handle corn in accordance with the regulations, but also help the villagers increase their income."
As Cheng Xin listened to Geng Yunye's analysis, light gradually appeared in her eyes.
She sought advice from her mother and her eldest aunt.
The eldest aunt looked solemn: "Although there are risks, I feel bad seeing the villagers like this, and I really can't bear to ignore it."
The mother sighed helplessly and said, "If you think it's okay, then give it a try. This is the worst possible outcome. If we are not allowed to set up stalls, it will really drive everyone to death."
Cheng Xin took a deep breath and finally made up her mind: "Okay, let's do it! If we work together to find a solution, we will definitely be able to overcome this difficulty."
So with the assistance of Geng Yunye, Cheng Xin began to prepare and organize a collective corn processing plan.
Geng Yunye found the women's director and said, "Let's organize everyone to sort out all the damaged corn and clean it up first."
Cheng Xin stood beside him and explained, "First, sort the corn. Dry the plump ones and make popcorn. Although popcorn consumes more oil and sugar, it can be sold for 50 cents a piece if it is done well. Grind the tender corn into corn juice, boil it, and add some sugar. It is cheap, easy to sell, and saves trouble."
The director of the women's department widened her eyes in disbelief: "Did I hear you right? A pound of cornmeal is only 20 cents, and the popcorn you mentioned can be sold for 50 cents? Who would buy this?"
Doubts were also raised among the crowd.
Old Liu frowned and hesitated: "This sounds mysterious. We have been farming for a lifetime and we only know how to sell the crops for money. How can we turn them into food and then sell them? Can it work?"
Aunt Li stopped picking out the moldy corn and said worriedly, "Besides, we have never made this before. If it goes bad, it will be a waste of food."
Seeing everyone's half-believing and half-doubting eyes, Geng Yunye cleared his throat and described to everyone the grand scene in front of the Bay Commune Cinema.
"What Cheng Xin said is true. My friend sells popcorn and corn juice in front of the Haiwan Commune Cinema. She sold out in less than a day. She didn't even need to apply for a temporary business license. Customers begged her to open the stall every day."
Hearing this, the crowd began to stir. The younger guys were the first to get excited. Xiao Zhang shouted excitedly, "Is it really that easy to make money? What are you waiting for? Get started!"
The aunts began to whisper to each other, and the sad expressions on their faces were gradually replaced by anticipation.
Cheng Xin raised her voice and shouted, "Aunties, come and help! Let's pick up the corn together, maybe we can turn waste into treasure! We have worked hard for a year, we can't just watch the harvest go to waste."
People gathered around and started to work together. Some took bamboo sieves to carefully sift out impurities from the corn; some brought clean water to wash the corn one by one; and some spread out reed mats to dry the corn. While working, everyone discussed the scene of selling popcorn and corn juice, and they were full of energy.
In between work, Cheng Xin couldn't help but think of the question she had before, so she asked the experienced Grandpa Zhang beside her: "Grandpa Zhang, do you think the corn in this field that has been damaged by the disaster can still be eaten? This is corn that was just picked two days ago."
Grandpa Zhang straightened up and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Girl, as long as the corn is not moldy or spoiled, it can still be eaten after boiling. In our disaster, some corn was just soaked in water. As long as it is handled in time, there will be no big problem. But if it has started to grow mold and has a strange smell, it can't be eaten. Eating it will easily make you sick."
After hearing this, Cheng Xin felt relieved.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
