Zhou Huaijun also became interested after hearing this. "Youngest brother, when we went into the mountains to dig truffles before, we could only find them under these kinds of trees. Why don't we plant some and try?"
Zhou Huaian thought that it would be good enough if he could find one or two hundred acres of honey trees to plant. "Okay, chestnuts can also be sold for money, so go get some and plant them. Also, you can ask the villagers who dig truffles to dig honey tree and chestnut tree seedlings and sell them to us."
Zhou Huairong: "That's good too. I'll talk to them about it next year when I go there."
After the family finished their meal, Zhou's father hurried back to the next room to look after the oven. Zhou's mother took the children to Yang Chunyan to get the picture books. Zhou Huairong and his two brothers took over the work in the oven. Zhou Huaian and the old man carried the dried truffles to the wine cellar to make truffle wine.
Yang Chunyan and her sisters-in-law washed the pots and bowls. Jiang Yu and the others also came, and the sisters-in-law also helped to wash the truffles.
The whole family took action, thinking of working overtime for a few hours tonight, and then preparing the New Year's Eve dinner at home peacefully tomorrow and celebrating the New Year happily.
A group of women were chattering, and the yard of the oven was as lively as a sparrow forest.
Yang Chunyan found that Li Qiuyue was much better this time after her return. When she got home, she put Xiaolong in the cradle and helped to wash the truffles. Xiaolong, who used to have to be held in her arms to sleep, could now sleep in the cradle.
Dozens of people were busy until after twelve o'clock, and they sent the last batch of truffles into the baking room. After walking around inside, they were completely wet, which was better than the effect of taking a steam sauna in a sauna.
Yang Chunyan, Zhao Huifang and two others took out New Year's goods from the wine cellar for Jiang Yu, Jia Chunhong, Dashu and other twenty workers.
The sisters-in-law gave them a piece of fat meat weighing more than three pounds, two packets of brown sugar, and two handfuls of noodles.
Yang Chunyan took the account book and said, "Aunt Jiang, Aunt Jia...you have worked for a total of 59 days, and the boss said that we will pay you for 60 days. Thank you for your hard work."
Jiang Yu took the 150 yuan salary, the net bag and the big piece of fat meat, and was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth. "Chun Yan, please thank the boss for us!"
"Okay!" Yang Chunyan smiled and nodded, "Happy New Year, come back at noon on the eighth day!"
"Happy New Year, here we go!"
The big bosses in the provincial capital are very generous. They pay high salaries and distribute New Year's goods. All the gossipy women in the village are so envious and regret that they looked down on Guilan's family and did not have a good relationship with her.
Zhou Dashu worked for more than 40 days and received more than 100 yuan in wages. He carried the big piece of fat meat and the net bag and said, "Chunyan, tell your grandfather that I'm leaving!"
In the past, I was in poor health and couldn’t do heavy work at home. My son was fine, but my daughter-in-law had a gloomy face every day. Since I started working here and got paid, my son and daughter-in-law have become much politer.
"Okay! Slow down!" Yang Chunyan and her sisters-in-law sent them to the door before going back to get a flashlight and go home.
Zhang Xiuxiang hugged Yang Chunyan and said, "Chunyan, you have worked hard this year. Have a good sleep tomorrow morning and we will get up to harvest truffles."
Zhao Huifang and Li Qiuyue also said, "Yes, you guys take a good rest, we will collect truffles tomorrow morning."
Yang Chunyan smiled and said, "With the elder brothers watching over us, we don't have to get up early. After the last batch of truffles are shipped out and weighed at noon tomorrow, we will start to settle accounts and distribute dividends. The last batch of truffles will not be delivered until Wang Zhen returns from the provincial capital."
"Any time is fine!" Zhao Huifang picked up the flashlight, "Let's go back, take a shower and go to bed early."
Zhang Xiuxiang: "Chunyan, I heard the youngest one said that we're going to catch fish from the pond early this morning?"
Yang Chunyan: "There are quite a few carps in the pond. Let's cast two nets tomorrow and share them among everyone."
The sisters-in-law went to Yang Chunyan's house. Zhou's mother said to Zhao Huifang and the other two, "I have made your beds for you. I have also sent you snacks, bacon, sausages, and deep-fried meat. You can hang them in your own wine cellar after the New Year."
"Thank you, Mom!" Zhao Huifang looked over, "Where are Jiaming and the others?"
"They were tired of reading comic books, so they all slept on the youngest floor." Zhou's mother laughed again. "A few of them were very happy with the new clothes, scarves and hairpins bought by their youngest aunt. They said they wanted to go to Ning'an to take pictures."
Zhao Huifang and the others said gratefully: "Chunyan, thank you, sister-in-law didn't prepare anything for Jiuer!"
Yang Chunyan smiled and said, "You are so polite to me. All the shoes my family of three wear are made by you, and I have never thanked you."
Zhao Huifang: "If you like to wear the clothes, my sister-in-law will make them for you every year!"
Mother Zhou looked at her daughters-in-law happily and said, "It's almost one o'clock now. You sisters-in-law should stop being polite and go home to wash up and go to bed."
Yang Chunyan washed up and carried the child back to the house. Zhou Huaian also came back, still muttering, "It's so hard to make money! I get up earlier than the chickens and sleep later than the dogs every day."
Yang Chunyan smiled and said, "It's good enough to make money by getting up early and going to bed late."
"Yes! Compared to those vendors who set up small stalls, we are already in a better position than others." Zhou Huaian said as he took off his clothes, "Uncle Xu said he asked Uncle Xu Er, and they will start installing the power lines here after the New Year."
"We'll start construction right after the Chinese New Year, so it will be usable by the end of the year anyway, right?"
"It should be possible! Uncle Xu also said that the current power generation and supply in the county are seriously insufficient. If the village-run enterprises are willing to invest in the construction of a hydropower station, the county will strongly support it, send technical personnel, provide preferential policies, and provide interest-free loans."
Zhou Huaian said with satisfaction, "Now it's all right. With the help of the county to send technicians, Wang Zhen doesn't have to ask for favors and help. When the time comes, he just needs to find someone to help buy more advanced equipment."
Yang Chunyan thought for a moment after hearing this, "Huaian, does Uncle Xu mean that only village-run enterprises can build hydropower stations? How many years can the interest-free loan be extended? Will someone hold us back?"
"Nowadays, private individuals can only run individual businesses and workshops, but cannot set up factories or businesses." Zhou Huaian leaned against the headboard of the bed. "He said that banks are eager to get loans from businesses to start businesses. I heard that someone has opened a wood processing plant under the name of a public enterprise."
It was the first time Yang Chunyan had heard of this. She looked at him in surprise and said, "If we register it under the name of a company, what if someone takes it over?"
Zhou Huaian shook his head, "I don't know. I think those who can be affiliated with the enterprise should have connections! Uncle Xu said that village-run enterprises are a good thing and the hydropower station is a good project. Let us take the lead in mobilizing the whole village to raise funds to build the hydropower station.
But we must respect the wishes of the villagers and let them sign the agreement to become shareholders voluntarily. We cannot force them to become shareholders. It is similar to the way we collect truffles, and we also distribute dividends according to shares!
Uncle Xu said that it would be better for our village to run our own power plant than to rely on it. We would also be in our own hands and would not have to worry about arguing with others in the future when we make money.
Yang Chunyan also felt that the affiliation was not safe. "Uncle Xu is right. Wang Zhen said he would go back and ask someone about the equipment. We will discuss it carefully when he comes back."
"Yeah!" Zhou Huaian blew out the oil lamp, "Hehe, I can finally sleep in well tomorrow."
Yang Chunyan recalled what Zhou Xiaoqian often said before: counting money until your hands cramp, sleeping until you wake up naturally, and getting a raise while others work overtime are the three happiest things in a person's life.
"Have a good sleep tomorrow morning and sleep until you wake up naturally tomorrow morning!"
"Wake up naturally!" Zhou Huaian thought about it and felt that this word was well used, "Yes, sleep until you wake up naturally!"
When Yang Chunyan woke up, it was already past eight o'clock. Seeing Zhou Huaian and Xiao Jiuer still sleeping soundly with their bellies bulging, she got up quietly, opened the door and went out.
Zhou's mother and Zhao Huifang were making glutinous rice balls with two kinds of fillings: one with black sesame, white sugar and lard, and one with peanuts, brown sugar and walnuts.
"The youngest one hasn't woken up yet?"
"I saw he was sleeping soundly, so I didn't call him!"
"It's okay today, let him sleep well."
In the room, Zhou Huaian closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. Xiao Jiuer sat beside him and looked at him curiously. For him, the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was his mother. He hadn't seen his old man for a long time.
Xiao Jiuer watched for a while, then climbed onto his stomach and pulled his hair on his forehead with his little hands, "Dad, Dad!"
"You bastard, I pulled my hair out!" Zhou Huaian held his little hand, "Damn it, wake up soon, you've been torturing me since your mom left!"
Xiao Jiuer giggled, lay on top of him, and drooled all over his face.
Suddenly Zhou Huaian felt a heat slowly spreading in his stomach, and hurriedly lifted him up, "Fuck! You little rascal, you made me pee so early in the morning."
Xiao Jiuer kicked his legs, "Pee, pee!"
Zhou Huaian's plan to sleep until he wakes up naturally failed. He was so angry that he wrapped the little guy in a small quilt and rushed out, "Yan'er, control your son. He deliberately climbed on my belly to pee."
Zhou's mother said angrily: "What nonsense are you talking about? He is so young, how could he know to pee on your stomach on purpose? He should just pee wherever it is convenient!"
Yang Chunyan smiled and went to get a basin of hot water. She took the father and son back to the house to wash and change clothes. Then she heard Xu Hongbing shouting outside: "Youngest, come out, it's time to fish!"
"Coming!" Zhou Huaian quickly put on rain boots and ran out.
Soon Zhou Yiding and a few others came, followed by Lin Wu and Ye Laoyao, and the fish pond was soon filled with people.
Zhou Jiakang proudly showed off to the second son of the Linwu family, "My youngest aunt bought us dozens of picture books, a complete set!"
"Dozens of comic books, your aunt is really willing to give them away!" Lin Lao Er looked at him enviously, "Can you lend me one to read?"
"No, my aunt spent a lot of money on it. If you want to read it..." Zhou Jiakang thought for a moment, "Two books for one cent, there's the Ginseng Doll, and the Generals of the Yang Family... They're both very good!"
Lin Lao Er thought for a moment and said, "I don't have any money right now. Can I give it to you after I give out my New Year's money?"
Zhou Jiakang thought about handing out New Year's money tonight, "Okay, take two first, and then change for two more when you get the money."
"Yeah!" Lin Lao Er nodded happily, "Look, your dad is casting the net."
"Dad, let's go fishing!" several children shouted.
"Here we go!" Zhou Huaian cast a net and slowly gathered it up. The net was so full that it almost didn't reach the shore. "Everyone, pick the big ones and catch them, and put the small ones back into the pond!"
A few villagers passing by gathered around him and asked, "Zhou Laoyao, can we all choose?"
Zhou Huaian waved his hand cheerfully, "It's all right, anyone who sees it gets a share!" (End of this chapter)
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