"Hmm, not bad."
He nodded, looking at his youngest daughter's expectant eyes, and added...
"There has indeed been significant progress."
Su Yuzhen was so happy that her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, and she turned around and ran back to the kitchen to help.
Soon, the food was served.
Braised fish, stir-fried pork with green peppers, cucumber salad, and Su Yuzhen's current specialty, tofu with scallions.
Wang Xiulan served everyone a full bowl of rice, and the family sat around the stone table, enjoying a long-awaited reunion dinner.
"Mom, please eat more fish."
Su Yufen put a large piece of fish on her mother's plate.
"To nourish your body."
Wang Xiulan smiled and nodded, but first put a piece of her chopsticks on her husband's plate.
"These days have been the hardest for the head of the household, so eat more."
Su Jianguo felt a warm glow in his heart as he watched his wife and daughters pass food to each other.
He tasted the tofu made by Su Yuzhen and found it to be a significant improvement over before, so he couldn't help but praise it again.
"Yuzhen, this tofu you made is really good."
Su Yuzhen proudly raised her chin.
"Of course! I get up before dawn every day to grind soybeans, and the neighbors all say I'm hardworking!"
"Oh, by the way, that Li Hongmei comes to buy from here quite often."
Su Yuzhen said proudly.
"They say my tofu is the best."
Upon hearing Li Hongmei's name, Su Jianguo paused slightly in his hand as he picked up food.
He asked casually.
What do you think of Li Hongmei?
"Sister Li is such a kind person!"
Su Yuzhen was the first to answer.
"A few times I was too lazy to deliver the tofu, and she always had someone come and pick it up. She even always praised my tofu!"
Su Yufen nodded as well.
"Li Hongmei is efficient and has a good personality; everyone in the store respects her. While you were away, Dad, she managed the No. 1 store very well."
Wang Xiulan put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth.
"Yes, that girl is very sensible. She always calls me 'Auntie' this and 'Auntie' that when she sees me. She knows how to handle things."
As Su Jianguo listened to his family's unanimous praise for Li Hongmei, his brows furrowed involuntarily.
If Li Hongmei really embezzled the money for the damaged vegetables, as Zhang Meili said, then her seemingly obedient and sensible demeanor is truly terrifying.
He lowered his head and ate a couple of mouthfuls of rice, trying to hide the strangeness on his face.
"Dad, why are you suddenly asking about Li Hongmei?"
Su Yufen keenly noticed her father's unusual behavior.
Su Jianguo shook his head.
"It's nothing, just asking casually. After all, she manages the store when I'm not around."
"Don't worry."
Su Yufen said with a smile.
“I specifically checked the account books, and Li Hongmei is really responsible. The accounts are kept crystal clear, with not a single penny discrepancy.”
These words were like a thorn stuck in Su Jianguo's heart.
Of course, the problem isn't visible on the books, because the problem lies off the books.
He forced a smile.
"That's good."
...
The next day arrived.
The morning sun shines on the dirt road leading to Sujiatun.
Su Jianguo was riding his bicycle at high speed.
We arrived not far from Sujiatun.
He squinted and looked into the distance. The neat rows of white greenhouses on the back mountain shimmered silver in the sunlight, like a continuous sea of clouds.
"Wow, things have changed so much..."
Su Jianguo muttered to himself, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips.
Last year, this place was a barren mountain, but now it has become a sizable vegetable base.
As the bicycle turned into the village entrance, several children who were playing recognized him and immediately ran over with cheers.
"Grandpa Su! Grandpa Su is here!"
Su Jianguo smiled and took out a few fruit candies from his pocket and gave them to the children, who ran off happily.
He continued pushing his bicycle, and villagers would greet him from time to time, their eyes full of respect.
"Jianguo is back?"
"Mr. Su, the cucumbers in the greenhouse are growing very well!"
"Thanks to you, my son can now earn over a hundred yuan a month!"
Su Jianguo responded to each question without stopping.
He saw his younger brother, Su Jianjun, directing several workers to adjust the irrigation pipes by the reservoir from afar, so he quickened his pace and walked over.
"Build an army!"
Su Jianjun turned around upon hearing the sound, and a surprised smile instantly bloomed on his dark face.
He ran over and hugged his brother tightly.
"Brother! When did you get back? Why didn't you tell me beforehand!"
Su Jianguo patted his younger brother's sturdy back and looked him over carefully.
Half a month later, Su Jianjun was even more tanned, but he was full of energy.
"I just got back to Beijing yesterday and came here first thing this morning."
As Su Jianguo spoke, his gaze swept over the busy workers and neatly arranged greenhouses around him.
"How did it go?"
Su Jianjun grinned.
"Brother, come with me!"
He grabbed Su Jianguo's wrist and quickly walked towards the nearest greenhouse.
Lifting the plastic curtain, a wave of humid heat hits you.
Su Jianguo's eyes widened instantly.
Lush green cucumber vines climbed all over the trellis, with tender cucumbers hanging from them, and several workers were carefully picking them.
"They've only been planted for sixty days, and they're already ready to harvest!"
Su Jianjun's voice was full of pride.
"The experts at the agricultural research station said our varieties are good, and the reservoir's water quality is particularly suitable for irrigation, so they're growing much faster than expected!"
Su Jianguo squatted down and examined it carefully.
"How's the production?"
Su Jianguo inquired.
"Each greenhouse can produce about 200 jin (100 kg) a day. Currently, 70 greenhouses are in production, and the remaining 30 should be ready for planting before the end of the year."
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