Chapter 127 Leaving Anfeng Brigade, Preparing to Return to Haishi
Ren Mingzhu's previous injuries had just healed, but now, seeing the villagers filled with righteous indignation, she became frightened and huddled silently under a big tree.
Seeing that she had stopped causing trouble, Lin Shanshan said, "How about this, you bring your things from home to exchange for wheat. That way it won't be a business transaction, and even if some unscrupulous person wants to sue, they won't have any evidence."
"Fellow villagers, do you know why I don't just give you the wheat directly, but insist that you exchange it for something else?"
Everyone fell silent.
Lin Shanshan continued, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. If I give it to you directly, you might only get it once, not twice. It might also foster a lazy mentality in you after you take it for free. More importantly, you will cherish food more when you exchange it for something else."
"Yes, Lin Zhiqing is right."
"We have hands and feet, we don't need to take it for free!"
Lin Shanshan gestured for everyone to be quiet and continued, "The militia brothers who helped me clear the land today can continue to plant wheat here. Those who didn't plant this year can go to Secretary Liu to apply for land clearing. I left the fertilizer and steps needed for land clearing with Secretary Liu yesterday. Everyone can make a copy."
"At the same time, I've left some excellent wheat seeds. Those of you who are reclaiming the land can go to Secretary Liu to get them. I'm leaving now, leaving you with the technology and seeds. Let's all work together to reclaim the wasteland, cultivate the land, and ensure every family has enough to eat. Let's build Anfeng Brigade into the wealthiest brigade in Hongyun County, okay?!"
"Alright, let's clear the land and farm together, so everyone can have enough to eat!"
The villagers were filled with passion by Lin Shanshan's words.
Someone in the crowd started asking questions.
"Lin Zhiqing, my family has a lot of eggs, can I trade them for some?"
"My family dug up bamboo shoots in the mountains yesterday, can we exchange them?"
"I have ducks at home, is that okay?"
Everyone started asking questions, one after another.
Lin Shanshan said, "Sure, you can exchange as much as you want, until all the wheat is gone."
A villager asked, "Lin Zhiqing, now that the exchange is over, won't your family eat?"
Lin Shanshan said, "Brother Gu and I are going back to Haishi soon, so we need to change everything because there's too much of it and we can't take it with us."
Standing under the big tree, Ren Mingzhu, who hadn't left, was shocked upon hearing Lin Shanshan's words and froze: What? They're going back? She'd gone through so much trouble to catch up with them, and now they're leaving?!
Lin Shanshan glanced at Ren Mingzhu, whose face looked unpleasant, out of the corner of her eye, and secretly rejoiced.
You can just stay here peacefully. You won't be able to go back until at least 1978 when the educated youth begin to return to the city.
Don't even think about using connections. After she and Gu Yiye return to Haishi, they'll put a bad word to his grandfather and make Ren Mingzhu stay obediently in Anfeng Brigade.
After receiving Lin Shanshan's affirmative reply, the villagers hurriedly went back to get supplies and burlap sacks for storing wheat.
Some clever ones brought out all their valuables. Since there was a food shortage everywhere, they traded wheat with Lin Zhiqing and then resold it to make a profit.
Lin Shanshan was well aware of this situation, but she didn't interfere. Perhaps this was the rudimentary form of a market economy.
After exchanging all the wheat, the moon was already high in the sky. After the villagers and the distraught Ren Mingzhu had all left, Lin Shanshan put most of the things back into her spatial storage. These free-range chickens and eggs from the countryside could be given to Hai Shi's grandfather, parents, and second uncle.
Anyway, it won't break if you leave it in the space.
Gu Yiye carried the remaining small portion back on his back, otherwise the villagers would find it strange that he didn't take the exchanged items home.
Back home, Gu Yiye gave all the things to Gu Xiang: "Big sister, take these. If you need more in the future, just write to me and I'll send you more."
Gu Xiang knew a few days ago that they were going back to Haishi, and now she felt very reluctant to part with them. She nodded and said, "Okay, I'll keep it. I can earn work points too, so you don't need to worry. Take good care of yourselves in Haishi, and come back to visit often when you have time."
With tears welling up in her eyes, Gu Ai'ai threw herself into Lin Shanshan's arms, choking back sobs, "Auntie, I can't bear to part with you."
Lin Shanshan gently pinched her little nose: "Eddie, don't cry. Your uncle and aunt will miss you too. We'll come back to see you whenever we have time."
Gu Ai'ai then stopped crying. Lin Shanshan talked with Gu Xiang for a while before going to wash up.
The next morning, Gu Yiye and Lin Shanshan set off early. Zeng Huihuang and Chen Meili waited for them at the village entrance early in the morning and brought them boiled eggs, saying, "Big brother, Shanshan, wait for us in Haishi. We will fill in Haishi schools for our college applications."
Lin Shanshan sat in the passenger seat, took the eggs, and said, "Okay, see you in Haishi."
Gu Yiye slowly started the car. Lin Shanshan took out a red envelope, threw it out the window, and shouted, "Meili, here's your wedding red envelope!"
There was 200 yuan inside; I threw it out of the car because I was afraid they wouldn't want it.
The car started, and they couldn't catch it!
Chen Meili picked up the wallet and saw 20 ten-yuan bills inside. Her eyes welled up with tears. She said to Zeng Huihuang, "When we go to university in Shanghai, we must repay our elder brother and Shanshan properly."
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