"Three yuan and eighty cents."
"Three yuan and eighty cents?"
Su Mingqiang gasped; this price was anything but cheap.
He subconsciously touched the five yuan in his pocket; it was the bonus he had just received that day.
"Could...could you make it cheaper?"
He stammered, his voice growing softer and softer.
The sales clerk finally looked up and sized up the young man covered in mud.
"State-run stores don't negotiate prices. If you want to buy, buy; if not, don't block the way for the people behind you."
Su Mingqiang looked back at the empty store; there was no one in the back.
He swallowed hard, his gaze returning to the row of face creams.
Jin Hua has been complaining lately about her face being flaky, and she often touches her face and sighs while breastfeeding at night...
"Um...can I take it out and have a look?"
He mustered his courage and asked.
The sales clerk impatiently put down the knitting needles and took a sample box from the counter.
Su Mingqiang carefully took it.
He gently lifted the lid, and a delicate jasmine fragrance immediately filled his nostrils.
"This is the latest model made in Shanghai, with added pearl powder."
The salesperson's tone softened a bit.
"It's very moisturizing when applied to the face, and many women come to buy it."
Su Mingqiang dabbed a little ointment with his fingertip and spread it on the area between his thumb and forefinger.
The delicate texture reminded him of Jin Hua's soft hands when they first married him.
"I...I'll buy one box."
He spoke suddenly, his voice incredibly firm.
Su Mingqiang's hands trembled violently as he took out his money.
Four one-yuan banknotes were placed on the counter.
The sales clerk counted the cream and pushed it and the change to him.
"Would you like some wrapping paper? Two cents more."
Su Mingqiang looked at the only 1.2 yuan left in his hand and shook his head.
He put the metal box into the inside pocket of his work clothes.
As he walked out of the supply and marketing cooperative, the setting sun shone directly on his face.
He suddenly imagined the smile Jin Hua might have after applying face cream, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.
He is now eager to go home and see Li Jinhua.
Turning the corner, Su Mingqiang saw his neighbor, Aunt Wang, and several other women sitting under a tree enjoying the shade.
He nodded politely and prepared to walk past quickly.
"Hey, Mingqiang."
Aunt Wang suddenly called out to him.
"You've been quite busy with work lately, haven't you?"
"Yes, Aunt Wang, there's a lot of work at the vegetable farm."
Su Mingqiang stopped in his tracks.
The women exchanged glances, and Aunt Wang lowered her voice.
"Mingqiang, if I may ask, have you been working a lot of overtime lately?"
Su Mingqiang was confused.
"Yeah, I've been coming home late lately. What's up?"
"It's nothing, it's nothing."
Aunt Wang quickly waved her hand.
"It's just...that...someone saw a man frequently going to your house lately, and he's dressed quite well..."
Su Mingqiang's smile froze.
"What man?"
"Oh dear, I must have misread it."
Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Aunt Wang quickly tried to smooth things over.
"This old man's eyesight is failing..."
Su Mingqiang stood there, feeling as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head.
He recalled Jin Hua's recent absent-mindedness, her sudden attention to her appearance, and even the fact that her attitude towards him had become less demanding these past few days...
"Mingqiang? Are you alright?"
Aunt Wang asked worriedly.
"It's alright, Aunt Wang, I'll head back now."
Su Mingqiang forced a smile, but his pace quickened involuntarily.
Reaching his front door, Su Mingqiang took a deep breath and took out his keys.
The sound of the door lock turning seemed particularly jarring at that moment.
...
at the same time.
Sujiatun.
Su Jianjun squatted in the greenhouse, his brows furrowed.
He held a cucumber leaf in his hand, which was covered with strange yellow spots and tiny insect eggs.
"Something's not right. Why would insects appear at this time of year?"
He muttered to himself.
The cucumber vines that were growing well yesterday have suddenly become diseased on a large scale today.
What's even stranger is that this pest and disease only affected three greenhouses, while the other greenhouses were completely unaffected.
"Manager Su! Expert Li from the Agricultural Science Station is here!"
A worker ran over to report.
After discovering a large number of pests and diseases, Su Jianjun immediately sent someone to the agricultural research station to find people.
Su Jianjun quickly got up to greet him.
Expert Li is a very famous agricultural technician. He is over sixty years old, wears thick glasses, and looks like an old scholar.
Because I often went to the countryside, I had known Su Jianjun for a long time.
"Uncle Li, please take a look, what happened?"
Su Jianjun led the experts to the diseased plant.
Expert Li carefully examined the leaves and soil, and took some samples of insect eggs for close observation.
His expression grew increasingly serious.
"Jianjun, this isn't an ordinary pest or disease."
Expert Li took off his glasses and wiped the lenses.
"These insect eggs were deliberately released, and they are a rare species specifically targeting cucumber crops."
"What?"
Su Jianjun's eyes widened.
"Did someone deliberately damage our greenhouse?"
Expert Li nodded, looked around at the condition of the cucumbers, and then continued.
"Moreover, the person who planted the cucumbers clearly understands agriculture; they chose a very opportune time, precisely when the cucumbers were about to ripen."
Su Jianjun's fists clenched involuntarily.
Three greenhouses, covering nearly six acres of cucumbers, were almost ready for harvest, but now face the danger of total crop failure.
Based on market prices, the loss would be at least tens of thousands of yuan.
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