Back home, Zhang and Tian Laosi looked at the ten mu of land deeds in their hands, their faces filled with undisguised joy and a hint of guilt.
"Father, Mother, if we lose the bet today and Yang takes our land deeds, will you still feel guilty?"
“We didn’t steal or rob, and we didn’t start any trouble. It’s only because God has blessed us that things have turned out this way.”
"Therefore, this is something we won in front of the whole village, and it is fair, just, and well-deserved!"
They understood what Tian Sangui was saying, but they just couldn't accept it for the time being.
"Yes, Mom and Dad know. Let's eat lunch!"
Just as they were having lunch, the village headman carried two jugs of fine liquor into the inner room.
"Oh my, I can smell the delicious aroma of food from far away. Look, I even bought some liquor. Zhang, am I lucky enough to have lunch here for you?"
When Zhang looked up and saw the village head, she quickly smiled and stood up to offer him a seat.
"Brother Village Head, why are you being so polite? Just come on over!"
Amidst the laughter and conversation, Tian Laosi invited the village head to take the seat of honor. After some polite exchanges, they sat down and were served wine.
After three cups of wine, the village headman revealed the purpose of his visit.
“I am truly happy for your family ever since I saw you grow crops like never before.”
"Especially San Gui, I could tell from a young age that she's a girl with her own ideas!"
As the village head spoke, he finished another cup of wine, then took Tian Laosi's hand and continued.
"Three years ago, during the war, our Tianjia Village was looted the most, and many of our brothers starved to death. We all came from hard times, fourth brother?"
The village head was so excited as he spoke that tears welled up in his eyes, a result of his suppressed emotions.
Old Tian nodded in acknowledgment.
"Seeing the high yield of your crops, I wish our whole village could have a family like yours!"
Tian Sangui finally heard the real reason: they had come to his house to ask for seeds.
"So, fourth brother, I hope you can understand the greater good and help our village grow high-yield crops. On behalf of the villagers, I, Tian Gen, thank you!"
After the village head finished speaking, he slid off his chair and knelt on the ground, startling the couple.
"Brother Village Head, get up! Let's talk this over properly. We don't kneel here. Get up and let's talk!"
Tian Laosi and Zhang Shi struggled to help the village headman back to his chair.
Zhang glanced at Tian Sangui secretly, wanting to see his attitude, but unfortunately, Tian Sangui just kept eating the food in his bowl and didn't look at Zhang at all.
Helpless, Zhang had no choice but to prioritize the village head's interests.
"Fourth brother, please help the villagers!"
Tian Laosi was afraid that if he stood at attention he would have to kneel on the ground again, so he didn't dare to let go of the hand holding him.
If he had the final say on the seeds, he would certainly agree to the village head's request without hesitation. After all, it was something that would benefit the village, so why would he refuse?
The questioning gaze fell on Tian Sangui once again.
It seems I won't let her off the hook today without giving her a proper explanation.
After finishing the last bite of his meal, Tian Sangui neatly placed the bowl on the edge of the table.
He looked up and glanced between the village head and Tian Laosi.
“Uncle Village Head, I, Tian Sangui, neither oppose nor am interested in things that benefit the people. You know my personality; I always put myself and my family first.”
The village head was completely bewildered. He looked left at Zhang Shi and then at Tian Lao Si, both of whom shared his confusion.
"What...what does that mean?"
Tian Sangui smiled and said, "As the village head, I understand that you care about everyone in the village. However, the potatoes and corn were obtained through my own hard work. They are not something that can be easily obtained by just saying a few nice words!"
Upon hearing this, the village head understood perfectly well that Tian Sangui was trying to set conditions.
"Just name your conditions, as long as they're not excessive, we can agree to them!"
After the incident with Ms. Yang this morning, Mr. and Mrs. Zhang had a different perspective. Their daughter was wholeheartedly thinking of them, and as parents, they had no reason to undermine their own family for the sake of outsiders.
Both of them tacitly chose to ignore it.
Seeing that the two of them didn't speak, Tian Sangui became even more outspoken.
"The seeds must pass through my hands. If I discover that someone has secretly kept seeds, I will be ruthless and confiscate all the crops on their land!"
"This..." The village head was astonished. As expected of Tian Sangui, he was just as domineering and ruthless in his actions.
They thought that by begging the easy-going Tian Laosi, the matter would be completely resolved.
It seems that Tian Laosi is not in charge now; Tian Sangui has the final say in everything.
Since things have come to this point, we have no choice but to bite the bullet and try to reach an agreement.
"And the grain we received..."
"A 30/70 split, three parts for my family, seven parts for my whole family!"
What's wrong with that?
"Okay, girl, do you have any other conditions?"
The village head was overjoyed and couldn't wait to settle down with Tian Sangui right now.
"As for other things, there will be good crops in the future, which everyone can cultivate as well. In five years, I will implement a 50/50 split, if the village head agrees..."
"Agreed, agreed, absolutely agreed!"
"San Gui, let's finalize the agreement now!"
The village head was very successful. If he did a good job with this seed, he would have made a great contribution to the village and would also receive praise from the county magistrate. There was nothing that would make him happier than this.
Subsequently, the two signed a covenant agreement in front of Mr. and Mrs. Zhang, and each of them affixed their fingerprints as proof!
"Starting in October, I will distribute potato and corn seeds to everyone according to their location, teach them planting techniques, and they can harvest in January or February of next year!"
"Oh my, this is wonderful! I must quickly share this great news with everyone and look forward to San Gui's seed!"
The village headman got up excitedly and ran off to inform the villagers, ignoring the polite attempts by Tian Laosi and Zhang Shi to keep him.
Zhang pulled Tian Sangui aside and quietly asked him why she did this.
"Potatoes and corn have high yields and are easy to care for. Over time, people can easily become indifferent to them and stop treasuring them, which will inevitably lead to food waste."
"Rather than letting people not cherish it in the future, it's better to control it from the source. Only under strict rules will people treat it well."
Zhang listened to the argument and found it all very reasonable, admiring her daughter's foresight.
Tian Laosi also agreed with his daughter's words, and from now on he would leave all such matters to Tian Sangui, while he could just focus on farming.
In the afternoon, Tian Sangui was ordered to stay at home to avoid getting sunburned.
Reluctantly, she took out her unfinished clothes and sat by the door to do the fine work.
Before long, a soft, slow footstep sound quietly approached!
Tian Sangui felt a darkness above his head and quickly looked up.
"Oh, Yu Niang?"
Why didn't you say anything? You scared me!
Do you know that scaring someone can kill them?
Tian Sangui complained and blamed the abnormal behavior of Yu Niang.
"Hey, doesn't your family never let you go out alone? What are you doing out looking for me?"
Yu Niang smiled gently: "Look at you, do you think I'd eat you? I was bored at home, so I came out to talk to you!"
Tian Sangui was very puzzled. Yu Niang was the eldest daughter of their village who rarely went out. Moreover, Tian Sangui was not familiar with her and had no contact with her before sending the letter.
Why would I think of coming to chat with her?
Tian Sangui immediately felt a sense of unease; something was definitely amiss!
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