Mai Laosan was the last one to arrive because he had to wait for Mai Sui and the others.

Mai Xiangnan and his family had arrived long ago.

After all, with so many people eating in the evening, it is impossible for Tian Guifen to do it alone. Yang Huizhen and others also have to help prepare the meal.

So, Tian Guifen, Yang Huizhen, their daughter-in-law and daughter were busy in the kitchen, while the others sat in the main room, warming themselves by the fire and chatting.

Seeing that his elder and younger sisters-in-law were busy, Mai Xiangbei asked his daughter-in-law Lin Shuhua to help.

If it were in previous years, Lin Shuhua would definitely not go because of her city dweller airs.

But times have changed. The most promising person in the Mai family is no longer her husband Mai Xiangbei, but Mai Laosan.

Lin Shuhua was short of breath and had to go over to help.

So, besides the men and children, there were only three girls in the main room: Mai Sui, Mai Lin, and Mai Dong Xue.

Mai Sui certainly wouldn't work, and no one dared to ask her to work.

It was rare for Malin to go back to her hometown, so everyone felt embarrassed to order her around.

Mai Dongxue followed suit. Mai Sui and the others didn't go, so why should she go?

She would rather sit here, roasting fire and eating sunflower seeds than go to the kitchen to help!

The elders actually don’t mind this. There are already many people busy in the kitchen, so it doesn’t matter if there is one more or one less.

So everyone sat around the fireplace, drinking tea and chatting.

As soon as Mai Laosan arrived, he started to unpack the New Year's goods he brought.

First give the candy to Hu Tou, after all, this kid was the first one to rush out to welcome him.

"Tiger head, come here, this is something Third Grandpa bought specially for you, no one else has it."

"Wow~Thank you, Third Grandpa!"

Hutou hugged the whole bag of White Rabbit candy tightly in his arms and jumped three feet high with joy.

Mai Lin and Mai Dong Xue saw it and wanted to eat it too, but they were too embarrassed to snatch it from Hu Tou, so they could only watch.

Hu Tou seemed to sense the danger and immediately protected his sugar and stayed away from Mai Lin and Mai Dong Xue.

Finally, he simply ran out and asked his mother to help him hide the candy to prevent it from being snatched away by the two greedy aunts.

Guo Hongmei was cutting vegetables in the kitchen when her son suddenly ran in with a large bag of candy in his arms. She immediately asked, "Where did it come from?"

"It was given to me by my third grandfather. No one else has it. Mom, please help me hide it. Don't let anyone find it."

When Guo Hongmei heard that it was given by Mai Lao San, she smiled happily and said, "Uncle San is really different. He is willing to buy such good candies, and buy so many at once."

Tian Guifen also laughed and said, "Thanks to our ancestors, the lives of the third family are getting better and better."

Mai Xiangnan's wife Yang Huizhen took over the conversation and asked curiously, "Where did the third brother go? Why did he suddenly become so wealthy? Did he go to the black market again?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Shuhua took the initiative to explain to Yang Huizhen: "Second sister-in-law, you don't know yet, do you? Third brother made a portable sewing machine, which is very popular in the city, and everyone is rushing to buy it."

"The third brother has this ability? I never expected it!" Yang Huizhen said in surprise.

"It was made by Mai Sui. My third brother just helped run errands. My cousin Xiangbei also helped. It was produced in our machinery factory."

Yang Huizhen was filled with envy when she heard this, and murmured, "The third brother must have made a lot of money, right?"

"A portable sewing machine sold at the supply and marketing cooperative for 55 yuan. Brother San made 500 of them. How much money did he make?"

"Five hundred pieces, 55 yuan each, how much is that? Oh, I can't figure it out."

Yang Huizhen didn't have much education, so if she was suddenly asked to do some math, she couldn't figure it out for a while.

However, even without calculating it, she knew that it was definitely a huge sum of money.

Even if the supply and marketing cooperative's purchase price is not 55 yuan per unit, it must be several dozen.

Oh my god, the third brother is really rich this time!

In the main room, Mai Laosan was still distributing his New Year's goods.

"Brother, this is the coat I made for you. It's the same as the one I'm wearing. It's very warm to wear.

Second brother, you have one too. And there are also ones for the eldest and second sisters-in-law.

Fourth brother, I won’t make any for you. You and your sister-in-law have so many clothes that you probably won’t be able to wear them all.

But I bought you two hats, come and try them on to see if they look good on you."

Mai Xiangbei didn't mind at all and said cheerfully, "This hat is nice, nice-looking and warm. Did you buy it from the army?"

"Of course, the army's stuff can't be bad!"

Mai Xiangdong touched the jacket which looked not cheap at first glance and his eyes felt slightly swollen.

Among the four brothers, he was originally most worried about the third brother.

Now that he sees the third brother's life is getting better and better, he can finally feel relieved.

Mai Laosan took out two portable sewing machines and gave them to Mai Xiangdong and Mai Xiangnan.

As for Mai Xiangbei, Mai Laosan had already sent him there.

Mai Xiangdong roughly knew what Mai Laosan had been doing in the city recently. Director Li of the supply and marketing cooperative was introduced by Mai Xiangdong.

As for Mai Xiangnan, he knew nothing.

So, it’s a bit strange to see this new thing.

So he asked, "Old Third, what is this?"

Afterwards, Mai Laosan introduced to them the functions and usage of the portable sewing machine.

Mai Laosan has said this many times, including to Lu Qingquan, Zheng Hanshan, Li Changxun, and government leaders.

So he was very familiar with it and spoke vividly, leaving everyone stunned.

Mai Hongcai also wanted to show off, but he didn't find a chance to interrupt as he was talked over by Mai Laosan.

Mai Sui and Shen Xingchen stood aside, quietly watching Mai Lao San showing off.

Just when everyone was listening attentively, Mai Lao San suddenly changed the subject and said:

“It’s a shame that such a good product is only sold in Xiangxi County. We should promote it nationwide!

So I have added an order for 5,000 units and will start production after the new year.

But after discussing it with our whole family, we felt that this was not enough, so we planned to build our own factory and produce it ourselves after the new year!"

"What did you say? Third brother, are you crazy? The machinery factory is doing well, why do you have to work so hard?"

Mai Xiangnan was the first to raise objections.

He is an honest farmer who has only worked in the fields all his life. Therefore, he prefers to be safe in everything and does not like or is used to risky things.

Mai Xiangdong also frowned: "Third brother, building a factory is not a trivial matter. The key is whether the government will agree to it?"

Mai Laosan: "I have already inquired about it. The government leader told me to find a commune and try to set up a small workshop first.

So, brother, when you go back to work after the New Year, come with me to Hongqi Commune and ask Secretary Hong for help. "

Mai Xiangdong didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Is it possible that you have arranged everything."

"Of course. I never fight a battle without preparation! The factory will be built in our village. Please grant me a piece of land."

Mai Xiangdong: ".....it's not a big problem to grant land. There are plenty of vacant land in the village. You just need to pay some rent.

But the question is, do you have enough money to build a factory?"