“This land was originally going to be redistributed, but no one wanted it, saying that it was unlucky since someone had died there. If we take it, it should be cheaper.”
“That’s right, Dad. I think this place is more than 300 square meters.”
Mingjing thought the land was at least 500 square meters, and she would build a three-story courtyard house facing the sea, which would be wonderful. "That's what I thought, but only this side is habitable. If we expand any further, we can't even dig the foundation. There are rocks underneath, so it's not suitable for living."
Ming Dahai pointed around, looking troubled.
This area is essentially a hard mudflat, as hard as a rock, and it won't accumulate seawater. Of course, you can forget about growing vegetables or anything like that; he felt it was completely unsuitable for building houses.
"It doesn't necessarily have to be a house; building a viewing platform would be nice too."
"What is a viewing platform?" Bright asked, blinking her big eyes.
"You'll find out when the time comes, Dad. You two go back first, I'm going to the village committee to take a look." Mingjing remembered that she had to go to the village committee for a discussion meeting today, so she took a shortcut.
This road used to be a dirt road, and almost everyone used it when it was near the village committee. But later, because big snakes often appeared on both sides, no one dared to walk on it anymore.
Mingjing had no choice but to take this route to escape those who were chasing her.
"Meow!"
A stray cat suddenly appeared, startling Mingjing.
She hadn't figured out what was going on on the mountain yet, and this was the first time she'd ever seen a wild cat.
As she turned around, a girl in a polyester dress hurried towards her, her two low braids drooping over her shoulders, and her neckline torn.
Mingjing glanced at the girl curiously, feeling as if she had never seen her before.
When the girl saw Mingjing, she was both ashamed and angry, and quickly went to the back, muttering something that Mingjing couldn't hear.
Because she was rushing to a meeting, Mingjing was in a hurry to get to the brigade and did not notice the figure lying in the grass next to her.
Apart from a few people who usually work in the village, only the village head Zhang Ping and Mingzhu are in the village.
"Village chief, isn't this an election?"
"No, I called you here to discuss the selection of the women's director. You are more popular and capable than Mingzhu. What do you think about the women's director position?"
Mingjing sat down, glanced at Mingzhu, and chuckled, "Village Chief, I don't want the houses of Old Zhang and Old Wang anymore. Give me the piece of land that Old Li used to own."
Can you approve this for me? If so, I'll withdraw; if not, we can discuss it further.
Zhang Ping and Mingzhu exchanged a glance and chuckled dryly. "Well, that piece of land is easy to deal with. Just for the abalone you gave me earlier, I have to give you face, right?"
"What abalone?" Mingzhu frowned.
Fearing that Mingzhu would gossip, Zhang Ping quickly said, "The whole village has them. Mingjing caught a lot of abalone and generously treated us to them instead of selling them. Don't you have any?"
Upon hearing this, Mingzhu's face turned pale and then red. "Sister, why didn't you send some to us? Last time you deliberately skipped us too. Aren't we family anymore?"
Mingjing replied casually, "Oh, it's not that I didn't want to send it, but you were out of abalone when I arrived. Let's talk about it next time."
"Who are you trying to fool? You clearly have a problem with our family. You took your uncle to go beachcombing but didn't take us. You did it on purpose."
"Oh, you guessed right, I did it on purpose, so what? Have you forgotten how I fell into the sea? We separated from you but didn't sever ties with my uncle. I can bring whomever I want, what's it to you?"
Mingjing, sounding impatient, stood up and said to the village chief, "Village chief, I want that piece of land. If possible, give me the land deed, and I'll find time to transfer it. I'm willing to pay a little extra."
Zhang Ping winked and looked at Mingzhu, then smiled ingratiatingly, "Don't worry, the land deed is recorded at the village committee. I'll take you to the land bureau to transfer the title once I find it."
"Thank you very much, Village Chief."
As they reached the door, Mingjing turned back and raised an eyebrow at Mingzhu. "By the way, being the women's director isn't easy. If you don't do a good job, I'll be waiting for you."
Mingjing deliberately tried to scare Mingzhu. She had no interest in being a women's director; she just couldn't stand Mingzhu's manipulative behavior.
Upon returning home, Mingjing was questioned by Mingdahai about her role as the women's director. Mingjing simply said she would consider it further and went back to her room after a few perfunctory remarks.
Mingjing lay on the bed, holding a paintbrush and drawing a structural diagram of a house on paper.
She had no design background, but simply sketched out a courtyard house, with the evening breeze blowing in through the window, cool and pleasant.
Mingjing fell asleep while she was painting.
The next morning, Mingjing got up and glanced at the fishing tackle shop. Her points had increased to 100, and her luck value was 100. She should have a big shipment today. She craned her neck and looked out the window.
Widow Ma leaned over the wall and said, "Mingjing, when are you going to go to the beach? I'm so tired of this, it's been days already."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mingjing, who had just stood up, fell back down.
What's the point of doing anything?
She'll save it up; she hasn't experienced the thrill of accumulating and exploding luck yet. Maybe something amazing will happen, like a king crab falling from the sky.
Widow Ma kept calling from outside, so Mingjing reluctantly got up, changed into a floral dress, and went out. "I'm on my period today, my stomach hurts, so I'm not going to go beachcombing."
Widow Ma pursed her lips and climbed down from the wall.
If you don't want to go, then you don't want to go. What excuse are you making? It's been so many days already. Aren't you afraid of bleeding to death?
Mingjing got up and planned to go to Song Yugui to discuss taking a boat out to sea to set traps the next day.
While walking along the road, I ran into Aunt Jiang. There were three widows in the village, and Aunt Jiang was the oldest. When she saw Mingjing, she smiled and said, "Mingjing, are you going to the beach?"
"No, I'm going to talk to Uncle Song about something."
"Really? Song Laosan and his nephew were out there clamming. They just got back. Oh, by the way, did you know that Song Yugui has a blind date?"
I think it's almost done. We'll go out for drinks together then.
"Okay."
Mingjing went straight to the Song family's house. She stood at the door and knocked. It was Song Yugui's mother who opened the door.
"Auntie, I'm here to see Uncle Song."
"It's just me, an old woman, at home. You should go back." Zhao Fen tried to close the door, but Mingjing's expression wasn't good either.
Mingjing frowned, a sense of foreboding creeping into her heart.
"Mingjing is here?" Song Yugui came out of the door upon hearing the voice.
"The lady just said you weren't here."
"She got up early to go beachcombing. She doesn't know that; she probably thinks I haven't come back."
Song Yugui sat at the table eating breakfast and invited Mingjing to sit down.
"Uncle Song, I'd like to rent the boat again tomorrow morning, at the same price."
"I'm not renting it anymore. Go find someone else," said Old Lady Zhao, her triangular eyes drooping down in a particularly eerie manner.
Mingjing's heart skipped a beat as she looked at Song Yugui.
“Mingjing, I think the boat rental fee is too cheap. Can you raise it a bit? Your second uncle is also here to help me rent a boat today, and he offered 150.”
“Mingjing, you have to give us two hundred yuan. I heard that you caught a lot of fish and abalone with our boat yesterday and made so much money. You only give us one hundred and eleven. My son is stupid, but I am not.”
Mingjing was so angry he laughed. This woman's eyelids were shallower than a shallow beach. If she didn't sell, it would be difficult to make money off her in the future.
"Aunt Zhao, you saw the abalone; we treated the whole village to it. You must have eaten quite a bit, right? When did I take it to sell? I went to sell whelks yesterday."
“You know how cheap whelks are right now. Are you jealous that I only make a few hundred dollars? After deducting the boat fare, it’s barely enough to pay my nephew’s tuition. If you think like that, you’re being greedy.”
"I don't care. Anyway, your second uncle came to ask if he wants to rent my boat. If you don't give me two hundred, I won't rent it to him."
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