"I was just about to tell you," Old Qin smiled and replied, "I asked around at the shop this morning, and one of my chefs' wives happens to be free at home and is willing to take on your job."
“I know that person. He worked for me for two months when we were short-staffed. He was a nice guy and quite hardworking. He stopped working here after his daughter-in-law gave birth and he went back to take care of his grandson.”
Old Qin continued, "Now that her grandson is in kindergarten, she doesn't have much to do. She's only in her fifties, but she can't stay idle. The salary you offer isn't low either, so she'd like to come and do it."
"Alright then." Chen Chongshan nodded hurriedly: "Uncle Qin, if you say she's a good person, then she must be right. Please tell her for me, and it would be best if she came over tomorrow."
"Can."
Old Qin nodded happily: "I'll bring the person over for you first thing tomorrow morning."
"Thank you for your help."
Chen Chongshan nodded in reply. Having found the right nanny, Chen Chongshan could finally put one of his worries to rest.
"It's no trouble at all, just a small favor."
Old Qin smiled and shook his head, paused, and then said, "Chongshan, there's something else I want to tell you."
"What is it?" Chen Chongshan asked, puzzled.
"I just got the news. Apparently, it's already within the county's plan for your area to be expropriated next spring," Old Qin said in a deep voice.
"collection?"
Chen Chongshan paused for a moment, then shook his head with a smile: "Uncle Qin, we've talked about this tax collection countless times, but when have we ever taken it seriously?"
"Don't take this lightly."
Old Qin hurriedly shook his head and replied, "This news is quite reliable. I only found out last night when some county leaders were drinking here. I had a few drinks with them, and they let it slip when they were drunk."
"Hmm." Chen Chongshan nodded with a smile: "Let them requisition it, it's a good thing. Anyway, those fields are all abandoned there."
“What I mean is, don’t you have Xu Jiaming’s connections? Have him put in a good word with Lin Jianbin and help you make some connections. If the land is really expropriated, you can get more compensation.”
Old Qin said solemnly, "Although the expropriation is a good thing, it is also equivalent to selling off the ancestral home and family property. The little things passed down from our ancestors are being sold off all at once. Take as much as you can. Even if you two brothers can make a living on your own in the future, you still need to leave something for Chongming."
Hearing Lao Qin's words, Chen Chongshan felt very grateful. Although it sounded cliché, it clearly showed Lao Qin's concern for his brother. He nodded with emotion and replied, "Okay, Uncle Qin, I understand. Don't worry."
"Yes, it's good to know. It's good to know this sooner rather than later, as it's beneficial to make arrangements earlier." Old Qin nodded in reply.
"Okay," Chen Chongshan nodded in agreement.
………………
After leaving Lao Qin's place, Chen Chongshan felt conflicted, finding the world somewhat ridiculous.
Just a few months ago, when he was desperate, he even went to a second-hand housing transaction center to try to sell his old house to raise money for Chongming's medical treatment. However, he failed to sell it, which left Chen Chongshan with some lingering resentment.
But now that the house is really going to be expropriated, Chen Chongshan feels a little reluctant. He has already cured his brother's legs and has some savings in his bank account. He has already passed the most difficult period and does not need the expropriation and demolition money to support himself.
He hoped to keep his family property, but there was no way. If the government really wanted to expropriate it, he had no reason to be one of those holdouts.
Chen Chongshan returned home lost in thought. Just as he abandoned his motorcycle and went back to his room, Ah Huang's barking suddenly came from the yard.
Chen Chongshan recognized Ah Huang's barking as someone approaching. He called out to Ah Huang, which brought it back, and then walked out of the room with a puzzled look. Just then, two figures stepped out of a car in the courtyard and pushed open the door to enter.
"Ah, Chongshan, are you at home?"
Upon seeing Chen Chongshan, Zhang Lan and Chen Futian immediately walked in with smiles and greeted him.
"Second Uncle, Aunt."
Chen Chongshan smiled and greeted the two men, but he was quite puzzled. These two had come during the day and came again at night. What did they want to see him about?
Chen Chongshan was particularly puzzled by his aunt Zhang Lan's attitude; he hadn't seen her with such a smile in many years.
“Actually, we came to see Chongming during the day, but you weren’t home then.” Zhang Lan said with a smile, “Chongshan, you really have a knack for it. The doctors in the county said they couldn’t cure the leg, but you really did it.”
“Auntie, I didn’t cure him. It was the hospital in Tanzhou and the doctors in America who did it,” Chen Chongshan replied with a decorative smile.
"Oh, an American doctor?"
Zhang Lan suddenly exclaimed dramatically, "Our Chongshan is really amazing! We can even find doctors from America. If it were us, we wouldn't even be able to find the gate of Tanzhou Hospital."
"Auntie is joking."
Chen Chongshan maintained the same expression, replying indifferently. Although he felt some resentment towards Zhang Lan, the matter was in the past, and he had overcome the difficulties. As long as he could maintain appearances, Chen Chongshan had little desire to dwell on the past.
After all, there's a saying that goes, it's a favor if someone helps you, and it's their right not to. At that time, she didn't help me, which was just her fulfilling her duty, so there's nothing to be surprised about.
Seeing Chen Chongshan's attitude, Zhang Lan also sensed something strange. She smiled, then glared at Chen Futian sideways, signaling him to come forward and speak.
Chen Chongshan stood at the door like that. Zhang Lan and her husband didn't rush to explain their purpose, and Chen Chongshan was too lazy to ask any more questions. If they wanted to wait it out, then so be it.
Chen Chongshan's gaze was drawn more to the new car parked outside the yard. In his memory, his uncle had always driven an old Chang'an minivan. He never expected that the family that had been desperately chasing after debts here just a few months ago, claiming to be poor, had already bought a new car.
The Beijing Hyundai Mistra isn't exactly a high-end car, but it still costs over 100,000 yuan. How could a family that's short of money afford that?
After receiving his wife's hint, Chen Futian smiled awkwardly, paused, and then said, "Chongshan, we came here during the day mainly to see Chongming. His leg is healed now, which is great news. If my brother is watching from heaven, he will be happy."
“Curing Chongming’s illness was my father’s last wish.” Chen Chongshan nodded.
"Yes, my brother has a good son."
Chen Futian smiled, then looked around the courtyard and said, "Chongshan, besides visiting Chongming, we also have something to discuss with you. Do you think we should go inside and sit down for a chat?"
"Okay, come in."
Chen Chongshan nodded again, then stepped aside to let Chen Futian and Zhang Lan in.
The fact that Mr. and Mrs. Chen Futian visited twice in one day meant they had something to discuss with him, which Chen Chongshan had already guessed, so he wasn't surprised.
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