The next two days were busy for Xu Ningyan and Gu Zhiyuan, but they were very fulfilled and happy.
At this time, the production team didn't have much farm work to do, so they would go to the fields and finish their work before sunrise.
Gu Zhiyuan finished the tasks assigned by the production team before breakfast, and after eating breakfast, he went to work on his private plot.
He seemed to find some enjoyment in pulling weeds, watering, and fertilizing.
Although it was newly developed land, the land itself was quite fertile, mainly because it was close to the cattle shed and had sufficient nutrients.
The various vegetables that have grown are quite pleasing to the eye.
We can't finish all the vegetables we pick every day.
At this time of year, the vegetable gardens in the countryside are at their most bountiful, with more than any family can eat. Far-sighted aunties will take advantage of this time to start drying vegetables and save them for winter.
Dried cowpeas, dried eggplant strips, dried lettuce slices, dried bitter melon strips—anything can be shredded and dried.
According to Xu Ningyan's previous memory, Siya was also an expert in this. Almost all the dried vegetables that the Xu family used to eat in winter were made by her.
So there's no need to ask anyone for help. All you need is a knife, a cutting board, a basin, and a pot.
Dried cowpeas are the easiest to process. Just pick them, wash them clean, remove any insect holes, blanch them in boiling water, and then dry them in the sun.
Other vegetables also need to be cut and chopped.
In no time, all the sunny spots in the yard were requisitioned.
Even the walls of the courtyard were covered in drying clothes.
Of course, the tenderest cowpeas and chili peppers can also be used to make pickles. Pickles made at this time of year will be ready in just two or three days and are perfect for serving with porridge.
When it's hot, people often lose their appetite. Porridge with pickled vegetables is a good way for rural people to get through the hot summer.
Xu Ningyan had previously made pickled vegetables at the Xu family's place. They had a jar of excellent brine, and all she needed to do was occasionally add washed and dried vegetables to it. After a few days, the pickled vegetables would be incredibly flavorful.
The mother water is gone now, but we're not afraid.
There were plenty of aunties and grandmothers in the production team who knew how to make pickled vegetables. You could just find one, pour in half a jar of brine, and take it home.
Add tender ginger, small red chilies, and Sichuan peppercorns, along with a little boiled and cooled stream water. Then add the washed and dried cowpeas, green and red peppers, and cabbage, and sprinkle with salt.
Cover the pickling jar with the lid, pour water around the jar, and place it in a shady place. It will be ready to eat in a few days.
She's like a busy ant, storing food every day.
Gu Zhiyuan was initially a little confused, but he also felt sorry for Xu Ningyan, who hadn't had a day off since returning and was busy every day.
He doesn't understand it, but he respects it.
After he started helping out himself, Gu Zhiyuan felt a sense of satisfaction every day as he watched the things in the house increase. This satisfaction was something that could not be achieved by spending money to buy the same supplies.
There was a two-day delay because the plums picked by the production team had to be delivered to the county town.
I was worried that if I didn't go back these past two days, the cowpeas and eggplants would get too old.
Unexpectedly, when she got home, she found that Gu Zhiyuan had already quietly followed her example and blanched and dried all the cowpeas.
The eggplants were also shredded, salted to draw out the moisture, and then laid out to dry on a bamboo mat.
Gu Zhiyuan sat on a recliner under a tree in the courtyard, engrossed in reading a book, while his lackey lay beside him, fast asleep.
At first glance, it appears to be a peaceful and serene place.
In particular, Gu Zhiyuan, upon hearing the commotion outside the door, looked up with his lackey.
When he saw Xu Ningyan push the door open and come in, a smile appeared in his eyes.
Green mountains, stone houses, verdant trees, a lone figure sits beneath a tree, slowly raising his head, a glance that seems to encompass eternity.
It's like a painting.
Xu Ningyan couldn't control her heart from pounding a few times; the big boss was truly alluring.
What just happened was truly impactful.
I silently repeated "form is emptiness, emptiness is form" several times in my mind, which calmed my wildly beating heart.
This is a big shot. Do you think he'll be able to get rich and live a life of ease? Would you dare to be interested in him?
Upon thinking of this, Xu Ningyan immediately felt a sense of detachment and celibacy, as if she could immediately become a nun.
Gu Zhiyuan's eyes darkened. The pleasure he had felt when he saw the little girl's infatuated gaze vanished instantly, replaced by an inexplicable displeasure.
He lowered his eyelids, composed himself, and then looked up again, his eyes returning to their usual calm: "A-Ning, you're back!"
This is the second time he has said this.
Xu Ningyan felt a sense of unease again, but couldn't quite put her finger on it.
He simply nodded, took a letter from his pocket, and handed it to Gu Zhiyuan: "This is a letter that Brother Sun asked me to give you. He said it's very important."
After saying that, he teased the lackey to avoid suspicion and then hid to the side.
Gu Zhiyuan narrowed his eyes. Why did it feel like this girl was avoiding him?
But seeing her carefree and playing around with her lackeys, he realized he might be overthinking things.
Without thinking further, I bent down and opened the letter.
Before he left the county, he told Sun Zhou that if the machinery factory sent people to the capital to investigate his background, he should let them do so.
As expected, news has already come from Beijing that someone has indeed investigated his background and his experience of being labeled as one of the "Five Black Categories".
Everything went as he had guessed; the machinery factory would be coming to him soon.
The county machinery factory at this moment.
In the factory manager's office, Wu Jie was flipping through the documents in his hand.
After reading it, he breathed a sigh of relief, made a phone call, and asked Lin's father to come and find him.
Lin's father knocked on the door and came in very quickly.
The door closed, and before I could even ask what was going on, a bunch of documents were thrown at my face.
After quickly glancing at it, he immediately beamed with joy: "This is great news! With his situation, as long as we find a way to manipulate things, the class background issue can be resolved! Why are you still looking so glum?"
Wu Jie gestured for him to lower his voice: "I've also read the information. Gu Zhiyuan's background isn't really that problematic. He was mainly implicated, but he himself has impeccable revolutionary credentials. I don't know who he offended. The main people are fine, but he's become cannon fodder!"
"He applied for the demotion because he was afraid of implicating his family again! It's lucky that this kid met someone who appreciates talent like you. Otherwise, this former top student from Beijing University might have been buried here for the rest of his life."
Lin's father couldn't wait any longer: "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and resolve this matter and recruit the person! Otherwise, when those bastards from other factories find out, they're all ruthless and quick. If someone else snatches the person away, I'll never forgive you!"
Wu Jie rubbed his temples: "Why are you in such a hurry? First, this can't be done in a big way. Second, have you forgotten something? If we really bring Xiao Gu in, what will Lu Kai think?"
Mr. Lin was still not quite clear: "What does Xiao Gu's coming in have to do with Lu Kai? Does he need to be here?"
If Wu Jie hadn't known that Lin's father genuinely didn't understand the intricacies of the matter, he would have thought Lin was pretending to be stupid.
All I could do was remind him, "Have you forgotten? Lu Kai originally had better opportunities, but Deputy Factory Director Lu insisted on keeping him in our factory. He said that if it weren't for the factory's financial and logistical support, Lu Kai might have lost his life! He wants him to remember the factory's kindness. Now that he's completed his studies, if he doesn't repay our factory and wants to go to a big city, that's absolutely unacceptable! Otherwise, we'll sever our father-son relationship!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
