"Oh dear, that's too expensive, I can't take it. This one costs 1,500. I just happened to run into you today, how could I accept your things?"
Dong Li waved his hand. If he accepted it, wouldn't he be taking advantage of the situation?
If Mingjing interprets things negatively and thinks that he and Boss Chen had planned it together, then things will be troublesome.
"Take it, give it to your daughter-in-law later. I'll throw it away if she doesn't want it," Mingjing said, pretending to throw it away, but in the end, she stuffed it into Dong Li's bicycle basket.
"Alright then, I'll keep it for now and give it to you later," Dong Li grinned, picked up the beads, and stuffed them into his pocket.
Since Mingjing is his daughter-in-law, it's not too late to give her back later.
Hearing him say that, Mingjing felt something was off, but afraid of overthinking it, she didn't ask any more questions.
Mingjing originally wanted to go to the bank, but then she thought that the matter of the homestead was still unresolved, and if she were to reach an agreement, she would still have to go to the city to withdraw the money, so she decided to take everything back with her.
"Hey, you didn't sell those two pink and red abalone pearls? Those two should have been more expensive."
Dong Li had wanted to ask that earlier, but since Mingjing hadn't been brought out, he couldn't say for sure.
"I'll keep those two for my mom."
Mingjing thought about it and realized that those two were not ordinary. Keeping them could increase their value. The sea people always needed to have something valuable in their possession, otherwise they would have worked for nothing.
"So filial. I'll have Jun'an treat you to a meal when he's on vacation," Dong Li said, turning the steering wheel. "I wonder how busy that kid is."
"Let's wait for an opportunity."
Mingjing looked out the window.
The car was parked in town, and Mingjing rode his motorcycle home.
On the way, I happened to run into Lao Zhao.
"Mingjing, you ride this motorcycle well. Where are you going?"
"I'm going to town to take care of some business. Old Zhao, how's your seafood business going lately?"
Old Zhao came out and did his job honestly, telling the truth: "It's not very good. The stuff everyone has isn't very good these days. It's just passable."
After a few seconds, he spoke again, "Mingjing, I heard from the villagers that you were the one who instigated my arrest?"
"Who's talking nonsense, framing an innocent person? Why would I scheme against you when we have no grudge against each other?" Mingjing retorted evasively.
"If it's not you, then forget it. What's the rush? The village is electing a women's director. Why don't you give it a try? The village chief just told us to go to the village meeting tonight."
Mingjing immediately realized that this was a trap, and that it must be because of Mingzhu.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Lao Zhao, Mingjing rode his motorcycle home.
As soon as I got home, Ming Dahai greeted me with a smile and said, "Mingjing, the village committee just told you to go to a meeting tonight to discuss the women's director position."
Sun Yunmei was overjoyed, "It seems that good fortune is finally coming to our family. A high-ranking official will be born. Let's kill a chicken to celebrate!"
"Forget it, Mom. Things aren't settled yet. Let's keep the chicken to lay eggs."
"Mingyue, go and call your uncle over. Tell him it's something important."
Mingyue ran fast and turned to run towards Sun Yang's house.
The people in the courtyard knew that Mingjing had made a lot of money and wanted to wait for someone to come over before saying anything, so they didn't stop him.
Once everyone had arrived, Mingjing turned around, closed the door, and pulled the group to sit down.
"What's all the mystery about?"
Sun Yang had an ominous expression on his face.
"I went to sell pearls today, guess how much they cost?"
Ming Dahai was laying bricks when he heard that they were for sale. He dropped what he was doing and stood to the side, asking, "How much?"
"Twelve beads, 1,500 each, and the rest are 800 and 200 each. After bargaining, the total is 69,000."
"My God!" Sun Yunmei was so frightened that she almost couldn't sit still on the stool.
The grouper that was that big before only cost 40,000 yuan, but this one is 70,000 yuan.
Is money really that easy to make?
“And another thing,” Mingjing continued, “Those abalone shells can be sold to Chinese medicine shops for 180 yuan. We can save up the abalone shells from now on; they’re worth money.”
"Let's not talk about the boat fare. My uncle and aunt helped a lot. It's 200 yuan per person for the four of us. That's the price, no more."
“Mingjing, your aunt didn’t do much work, this money…”
Mingjing interrupted Sun Yang, "Uncle, Aunt needs nutrition during her pregnancy, and the baby will also need money after birth. It's only right that you help, and besides, it's not much."
"You'll get more money if you help me watch the receiving point later. Keep it. If you don't accept it, I won't let you come back."
Mingjing took out eight hundred yuan and gave it to Sun Yang.
"Alright, I'll take it. Mingjing is getting more and more capable." Sun Yang said, beaming with joy as he took the money.
Since they were family, Sun Yunmei naturally wouldn't hold it against them. She got up and took a few more banana fish and Cai Mei back with Sun Yang to make soup.
After seeing Sun Yang off, Mingjing chatted with Ming Dahai about the homestead.
"Dad, what about that homestead? It's been so long, why haven't Lao Zhang and Lao Wang made any moves yet?"
Ming Dahai sighed as he smoked, "Sigh, Lao Zhang replied today that his child is abroad and can't come back, so he can't make the decision. Lao Wang has also changed his mind and said he won't sell the house."
Ming Dahai was afraid of upsetting Mingjing, so he hadn't spoken up until now, but he couldn't hide it any longer and had to say it directly.
“If you want to back out, then forget it, Dad. We can buy the land and build it ourselves.” Mingjing was indeed a little unhappy.
They made an agreement, kept her hanging for days, and then went back on their word. It was a complete waste of her time.
“Building it myself is no problem, but the location of the land is hard to choose. There is a vacant lot on the west side of the village, about 300 square meters, which used to belong to Old Li from the village.”
"Old Li only had one daughter. His wife died early, and his daughter died when she was ten years old. He never remarried and his family line ended. After he died, the place was empty."
"It's too remote. The house is by the sea. I have rheumatism and need crutches. I don't think it's a good fit," Ming Dahai shook his head, not optimistic.
"Does the sea level rise frequently?"
"No, that place is high up, but it's too remote and damp, similar to your uncle's place."
Ming Dahai thought that the location of the receiving point was good, but it would be a bit unsuitable for living.
"Then we'll go and take a look later."
"There's a dilapidated wooden house next to the Sea Goddess Temple. The old man died inside, and it wasn't discovered until a month later. It's considered unlucky."
"It's alright, Goddess of the Sea will protect you. When the hut is demolished, burn more paper money for Old Li and rebuild a big house, a three-story villa."
Throughout history, there have been countless battlefields on the land of China. People have died in every place. Can we say that all of these places are unlucky? If you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear.
"Later? Why aren't we going now?" Sun Yunmei asked curiously.
"I promised everyone I would make abalone, and I can't go back on my word."
Mingjing got up, picked up the abalone that was salted in the kitchen, poured it all into the pot, and then chopped some scallions, ginger and garlic and steamed it over high heat.
“We picked them up ourselves, it’s such a waste to give them to them,” Sun Yunmei said with heartache.
She also plans to make dried abalone to use in soups and stir-fries during the Lunar New Year.
"Mom, we can't finish all of this, let's share it with everyone."
Mingjing was mainly trying to earn points; otherwise, she wouldn't have been so kind as to share abalone with everyone. She was getting anxious because the farm's progress was slow.
“Okay, you’re the one who earned the money, so you can do whatever you want,” Sun Yunmei said with a smile as she sat down to tend the fire.
Soon the abalone was ready, and Mingjing prepared a secret sauce with oyster sauce and poured it over the abalone.
At this time, the oyster sauce is made from oysters, and it tastes delicious and healthy. Mingjing picked it up and took a bite, and it was so fresh it was heavenly.
She kept a small portion for her family to eat, and gave the rest to the villagers.
"Dad, come with me. We'll take a look at that piece of land while we're at it. Mingliang, you come too."
Mingjing carried several large jars onto the car, while Mingda pulled the car around the island delivering abalone, with Mingliang following behind to help.
After walking around the village, I found that almost everyone there was one, except for Ming Lao Er and the Qian family.
She gave especially a lot to Zhang Ping, the village chief.
After hearing everyone's praise, Mingjing heard the sound of gold coins ringing in his ears nonstop.
After delivering the abalone, Mingjing arrived at the plot of land.
That place was located directly west of the Sea Goddess Temple. It was on high ground, more than 100 meters from the sea, and close to the dock. There were no other houses around, only a small, dilapidated hut standing there.
The dilapidated house looked quite old; half of it had been blown down by the wind, with wood scattered on the ground, revealing a small bed.
Because of severe salinization along the coast, there is almost no vegetation around, and the land is hard and dry.
“I think this place is worth more than 800 yuan,” Mingliang said, stepping forward and kicking away a piece of wood at his feet in disgust.
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