"Yes, I'm saying that when you get something good, you should also take care of our fellow villagers, right? Besides, if you use it today, you probably won't be able to carry it tomorrow. It's better to give it to us all. We're strong laborers too. If we each use it for a while at our best, we can get more done!"
People don't get up early for nothing, so Bai Jiaojiao could have foreseen that everyone would want to use this big scythe for work.
She just didn't expect that Li Lide would come and snatch it directly in public.
"What everyone is saying is true, and you've all seen how efficient this sickle is. But just these two aren't enough to maximize efficiency. How about this, I have an idea."
Bai Jiaojiao looked at Li Lide, and Li Lide suddenly had a bad feeling.
"The village chief will send someone to the blacksmith in town today to expedite the order of dozens of sickle blades, and then find a few carpenters to make some handles. I estimate we'll be able to use them the day after tomorrow. Even if there are only two days left, if everyone has this equipment, we're sure we can finish the wheat harvest this year!"
"That's right, village chief! What's the use of two sickles? Can one person use them for ten minutes? It's better to do more. If all the able-bodied people in the village could use them, would the harvest even be a problem?"
Now, everyone is not afraid of being tired, but they are afraid of not finishing the work and having the wheat rot in the field.
Li Lide, his face flushed and neck red, roared, "Do more, do more! You make it sound so easy! Where in our village do we get that much money? Are you going to pay for it? Just for these two days?! Is the remaining wheat even worth that much? Can't you even do basic math?!"
The person who was speaking lowered his head and dared not speak after being reprimanded by Li Lide.
Bai Jiaojiao smiled and said, "Village chief, you're wrong. These tools aren't going to break this year. They can be stored in the warehouse and used for ten or twenty years without any problem, right? In the future, our Shili Village will no longer have to worry about harvesting wheat. Isn't that a one-time solution?"
In Shili Village, it usually rains during the wheat harvest season. Three out of five years, the wheat harvest has to be rushed, but this year it's especially rushed.
Bai Jiaojiao's description was so beautiful that these days, when people hear that their descendants can benefit from it, they all think it's such a good deal.
"I think Jiaojiao is right! Brother De, you should think about it."
Li Shiqing took the lead and made a request to Li Lide.
Li Shiqing and Li Lide were from the same generation, so Li Lide couldn't very well glare at him after he made the suggestion.
"Yes, village chief, it would be good if three or two families could use it in rotation."
"Buying this once will benefit us all in the future, Village Chief!"
With everyone chiming in, they managed to get Li Lide on board.
Li Lide looked at Bai Jiaojiao and was surprised to find that the little girl was so sharp-tongued.
"Alright, she's finished speaking, you can let me go now!"
Li Lide shook off Shen Heng's hand. Shen Heng didn't stop him, but the others wouldn't let him leave.
"Village chief, hurry up and get a few of these tools. The sooner we have them, the more wheat we can harvest!"
The wheat that had been rained on couldn't be delivered as grain to the government, so it had to be left for them to eat.
Wheat that has sprouted is poured into the flour mill along with the sprouts. The resulting flour is sticky, spoils easily, and has a terrible texture.
Nobody wants to eat that.
"Village chief, you can't be careless about this. We're not afraid of hardship, we're just afraid of not finishing the wheat harvest. Now that we have a solution, we have to try it no matter what!"
"Yes! Village Chief, everyone respects you. You have the best vision, and you can definitely get this done!"
Li Lide is truly in a dilemma this time.
He glared at Li Hongtao with hatred.
He was being nosy and meddling in other people's business.
Dozens of tools, must cost at least a hundred, right?
Where would the village get so much money? The accountant would nag him to death.
But since things had come to this, he could only say with a bitter face, "I understand, fellow villagers, I'll go and make the arrangements right away!"
"Thank you, Village Chief!"
The crowd cheered. Li Lide, laughing and crying at the same time, said, "This is what I should do. As long as it's for the good of the village, I will overcome all difficulties to do it!"
“Uncle, then I…” Li Hongtao followed Li Lide, looking anxious.
At this point, Li Lide had no time to care about Li Hongtao's affairs: "What do you mean 'you'? Don't bother me, I have to go to town!"
Li Lide shoved Li Hongtao aside and rushed downstairs.
"Hey, village chief, wait a minute!"
Hearing Bai Jiaojiao call him, Li Lide was a little startled: "What are you doing now?"
"I'll give you the blueprints!"
Bai Jiaojiao took out her drawings from her pants pocket and handed them to Li Lide with a smile.
"This girl doesn't keep anything to herself; I misjudged her before."
"He's really not good at physical work, but he's got a good brain! He was able to come up with something like this, which shows that every profession can produce an expert."
Amidst everyone's praise for Bai Jiaojiao, Li Lide left in a huff.
When Li Lide saw that Bai Jiaojiao was carrying the blueprints with her, he knew that the girl had come prepared and knew that he was coming to ask for the tools.
He never realized Bai Jiaojiao was quite capable before!
Today was supposed to be Bai Jiaojiao's homecoming day, and Deng Min had already made preparations to invite the two of them over for a nice meal tonight.
Who knew that the brigade would issue a notice that night to set fire to continue the harvest.
Shen Heng has a large appetite and plenty of strength; he can work all night long without stopping until dark.
However, Bai Shihai was already exhausted.
"Was this done on purpose by the village chief?"
Bai Shiqing had no choice but to think of the worst-case scenario, and Bai Jiaojiao shared the same thought.
Lighting a fire in a wheat field involves digging a large pit, throwing in ears of wheat, and the firelight will illuminate a large area. However, if you bend down and get blocked by the wheat, you won't be able to see very well.
This order caused a lot of complaints, but there was nothing anyone could do. Everyone worked from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m. before going home.
"Are you still coming to my house for dinner?" Deng Min asked.
"Sister-in-law, I really want to go, but I'm just too tired. Tell Dad we can get together after the harvest is over!"
When Bai Jiaojiao came down the mountain, her feet were so weak that she had to be helped down by Shen Heng.
Deng Min didn't stand on ceremony with her. She had already noticed the two big blisters on Bai Shihai's hands and felt sorry for her husband, wanting him to go back and rest as soon as possible.
"Heng-ge, I'm so tired."
As soon as Bai Jiaojiao got back, she collapsed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), feeling uncomfortable and damp beneath her, but she couldn't be bothered to care.
"I told you not to go to work, but you wouldn't listen. Don't go tomorrow, just stay home and rest."
Shen Heng boiled some water for Bai Jiaojiao and brought it to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). He then used a towel to wipe Bai Jiaojiao's face.
Bai Jiaojiao blushed with embarrassment and snatched the towel from Shen Heng's hand: "I can do it myself, Heng-ge."
Shen Heng's lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing.
Bai Jiaojiao stared at Shen Heng, and seeing that he didn't move, she said, "Brother Heng, can you go out first? I want to take off my clothes to wipe myself."
Shen Heng raised an eyebrow: "I'm your man, what can't I see? The night before last, we..."
Bai Jiaojiao covered Shen Heng's mouth: "This is different!"
Seeing Bai Jiaojiao's embarrassed state, Shen Heng's lips curled up slightly.
He took Bai Jiaojiao's hand down and kissed her palm.
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