Upon returning to the Houshan Brigade, Yao Tongjia and Xiao Gengwu clearly felt that the village was full of vitality, and everyone's face was beaming with smiles—smiles full of hope.
The villagers used to work very hard, but no matter how hard they worked, they couldn't fill their stomachs, and there was no hope of success.
A sense of despair would permeate the village. People would still go about their work, but it would be done mechanically and numbly.
When the village chief saw Yao Tongjia and Xiao Gengwu, he immediately came up to them: "You've come. I'll have your aunt clean your house thoroughly and bring out your quilts and pillows to air them out."
Yao Tongjia quickly thanked her, "Thank you, Village Chief. But what did you call us here for?"
The village chief's eyes were full of joy: "No rush, no rush, let's take a walk around the village first! Look at this irrigation machine, many villages are using it now."
“Every village that has been equipped with this system can save a lot of labor! I heard that the factory is working day and night and still can't keep up with the demand, so several people from our village have become workers!”
The village chief's smile no longer carried the sorrow of before; it seemed as if the wrinkles on his face had thinned, and the gray hairs in his hair had turned a darker color, making him look much younger.
Currently, only the watering machines produced by the factory that they cooperate with the commune produce.
They receive a share of the profits from every village that buys irrigation machines, and of course, the more they buy, the better. Besides, when selecting workers on the spot, it's agreed that people from their own village will be given priority.
This has made the neighboring villages extremely envious. Now, all the aunts and uncles are coming to them, hoping to use their village's name to send people in as workers.
However, he has already stated in a meeting that such a precedent must not be set, and they should leave the opportunity to their own children.
Otherwise, if things fall into chaos and this advantage is taken away, who will we complain to?!
As elders, we must think of our children. No matter how much the relatives cry and make a fuss, no one dares to act recklessly.
Now every family can eat meat every few days, a life they never dared to dream of before, all thanks to these two little kids.
Yao Tongjia was just watching the spectacle, observing the watering machine spraying water everywhere with a fine spray. Xiao Gengwu, however, was different. He watched for a while and then suddenly walked over and said, "It can be improved!"
Yao Tongjia really admired his intelligence, but she didn't go with him: "Village chief, I'll go up the mountain to take a look. You have someone follow him and don't disturb him!"
The village chief now has experience: "I'll personally follow him to ensure no one disturbs his train of thought!"
As Yao Tongjia walked up the mountain, she encountered several aunties along the way. They all greeted her warmly: "Tongtong, what are you doing up the mountain? Do you want some wild vegetables? Auntie has some here, here's a bunch for you, you don't need to go up!"
As soon as she said this, several people came over to offer Yao Tongjia some wild vegetables, but Yao Tongjia quickly refused, "No need, no need, I just went to check on how the herbs are growing!"
"The herbs are growing very fast, we've all been watching, don't worry!" She's practically the village's lucky charm; without her guidance, they would still be struggling to make ends meet!
Yao Tongjia finally managed to refuse the aunties' kind offer; her cheeks were almost sore from smiling so much. She still preferred life in the county; the people there were just too hospitable!
In the county, they could just close their doors and no one would come to visit! Yao Tongjia knew this was a habit she had developed in her later life, but she didn't want to change it!
Once she reached the mountain, she didn't go far. Hmm! The herbs are indeed growing very well! Looks like they can be used this year, very good!
Suddenly, Yao Tongjia heard a slight noise behind her. She quickly turned around and was met with a pair of ingratiating smiles. Was this Ruan Shengpeng? What was he doing here?
"What are you doing here?" Yao Tongjia was a little unhappy. Did the captain call them back because of him?
Seeing that Yao Tongjia seemed a little unhappy, Ruan Shengpeng quickly explained, "I've been staying in this cave recently. I just heard someone talking about you, saying you're back!"
"You, a dignified brigade commander, what are you doing living here?"
“It’s safer to stay here. Don’t you have class today, Tongtong?” Ruan Shengpeng’s voice softened as he mentioned the last name.
Hearing Ruan Shengpeng call Tongtong, Yao Tongjia's heart seemed to be struck by something. She looked up at Ruan Shengpeng and said, "I asked for leave and didn't go to class!"
"Why are you taking leave? Is it because you don't have enough money? I give all my salary to your mother, so you can use my salary from now on!"
"Why are you suddenly paying us a salary? Are you expecting us to support you in your old age?"
“Raising you as children is my responsibility as a father, not for you to support me in my old age. I will have a retirement pension in the future, and you don’t have to support me!”
"When we needed money before, you didn't offer any help. Now that we're making money, your help is just adding to our success, which is actually unnecessary!"
"I'm sorry, Tongtong, I've made you three suffer a lot! I gave your mother a bankbook before, but Ruan Shengzhi took it!"
Seeing that Yao Tongjia seemed to be leaving, Ruan Shengpeng quickly chased after her, only to hear Yao Tongjia say, "No need to say anything more. Time has passed, and saying anything more cannot change the facts!"
“I know that no matter what I said in the past, it was my dereliction of duty as a father. Please give me a chance to make up for it in the future.”
Yao Tongjia turned to look at her elderly father, whose hair was somewhat gray: "Do you know what my full name is?"
These words made Ruan Shengpeng hesitate: "Ruan Tongjia?"
Yao Tongjia shook her head: "My name is Yao Tongjia, and my younger brother's name is Yao Tongxu!"
These words made Ruan Shengpeng hesitate for a moment: "It doesn't matter whether you're surnamed Ruan or Yao, you're all my children!"
That being said, Ruan Shengpeng was still somewhat disappointed. He even changed his surname. Was it because he didn't trust him, or because he was afraid someone would come after him for revenge?
It seems the previous retaliation was too lenient! Ruan Shengpeng thought to himself, looking up at his daughter who seemed to be admiring his expression, and he suddenly found it very funny.
He walked over to pat her head, but Yao Tongjia took two steps back, leaving his hand empty. She seemed to be mocking him: "Do you pat your daughter like this in Beijing?"
Ruan Shengpeng quickly shook his head: "No, no, I knew it wasn't you the moment I saw her. Your eyes don't look like that at all!"
“When she called me Dad, I just felt disgusted. She was nothing like you when I was a child. Your babbling ‘Dad’ made me happy!”
"Really?" Yao Tongjia asked, seemingly uncertain.
Ruan Shengpeng nodded quickly: "Absolutely true! You are my only daughter, I wouldn't fail to recognize my own daughter!"
"The last time you saw me, you called out my mother's name! You didn't recognize me then!"
Ruan Shengpeng: "..." Everyone says daughters are like warm little cotton-padded jackets, but has this little cotton-padded jacket been soaked in water? Otherwise, why are all her words so chilling!
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