“A few days ago, I went to another province for a study visit. At the train station, I saw a young man being searched. Fortunately, the young man was quick-witted and found a purchase certificate issued by the Zhaojiagou Brigade in his bag.”
Factory Director Zhu poured Zhao Youcai a cup of tea, his tone still light and casual.
"I took a liking to the young man as soon as I saw him, so I couldn't help but go over and help him out of the predicament. I even made a point of mentioning that he wanted to go to another province with me and gave him a spot for training. It's a pity that the factory director inexplicably lost this business trip, and he's probably feeling pretty upset right now."
Zhao Youcai understood; this was a reminder that his unfilial son had been blocked at the train station and almost couldn't leave.
He also implied to himself that he had used a spot that a director in the factory was going to use for an exchange program in another province.
The meaning behind all this is obvious to anyone who isn't an idiot.
"Hehe, I'll remember this favor, old man."
Zhao Youcai finished speaking casually, but inwardly he was sighing. Now that he was famous, he was attracting a lot of trouble. Before he knew it, he had incurred a considerable favor from the other party. He would have to be more careful in the future.
"Factory manager, everything has been taken care of. The villagers are all waiting for Comrade Zhao."
Having said what Director Zhu wanted to say, Zhao Youcai got up and left without lingering any longer.
The journey back was unusually quiet, making everyone hold their breath. They assumed Zhao Youcai had encountered some trouble at the farm and were trying to come up with a solution.
Back home, after everyone in the village who were waiting to receive their share of the money had left satisfied, Zhao Youcai signaled to his sons to lock the front door and for everyone to go to their own rooms.
Everyone took it seriously, realizing that something big had happened.
Zhao Youcai gestured for them to find a place to sit down before speaking seriously.
“These past few months, regarding the cooperation with the breeding farm, you two brothers will take turns going with the third brother and leading the villagers. I won’t be going. Once you get there, remember to be careful and watch your words when you talk to anyone. Say what you should say carefully, and don’t reveal a single word that you shouldn’t say.”
The third son, Zhao Jianhua, looked at his father with a serious expression. He had only been separated from Zhao Youcai for about half an hour along the way.
I don't know what that Director Zhu said that made my father so wary.
But he definitely doesn't have any good intentions, otherwise, with Dad's social skills, he could have become sworn brothers with a few more factory managers and praised them to the skies.
"Don't worry, Dad, I know what to do."
Zhao Youcai was about to go back to his room to rest when he heard someone calling him from outside.
"Is Uncle Cai taking a break?"
Zhao Youcai glanced at his son beside him and gestured for him to open the door to welcome the guests.
Then Aunt Trumpet came in with a smile, carrying a porcelain basin filled with rice cakes.
"They're still hot from the pot. My husband told me you're all back, so I thought I'd bring some over for you to try."
Zhao Youcai was somewhat surprised at this moment, after all, the impression that Aunt Lou had left on him was too deep.
She behaved differently every time I met her. Are all women this fickle?
"Oh, Auntie, we're so embarrassed."
The eldest son's wife reacted very quickly, immediately stepping forward to politely decline.
Unfortunately, Aunt Laba was determined to keep the rice cake. The two argued for a while, but in the end, they decided to keep the rice cake.
Aunt Trumpet nodded in satisfaction and happily took the empty basin and left.
"Dad, what's with Aunt Trumpet's sudden stunt?"
Besides her loud voice and love of gossip, Aunt Lou has another trait that rivals her father's—being stingy.
How to describe it?
To put it simply, if the mud falls on the wall shared with the neighbors, Aunt Lou has to take half of it.
It's quite astonishing that they've brought out so much rice cake for the first time ever.
"Dad, do you think Aunt Trumpet got into trouble when she went out at night?"
Zhao Youcai kicked his third brother, Zhao Jianhua, in annoyance. "That brat's mouth is really something else; he just keeps babbling on and on, saying whatever comes to mind."
"Stop talking nonsense. You can't become a spirit after the founding of the People's Republic of China."
Zhao Jianguo looked up, bewildered, and scratched his head, uttering a question.
Zhao Youcai waved his hand, too lazy to pay attention to the group, and went to the backyard to check on the chicks and ducklings. He had been raising them for quite a while, and they ate feed from his own farm every day. Judging by the time it took, they should be laying eggs soon.
Only after Zhao Youcai's figure disappeared around the corner did the brothers huddle together and chirp softly.
"What do you think Aunt Trumpet means by this? Could it be that she's taken a liking to our dad? Her husband is still alive."
“Third brother, listen to what you’re saying. Everyone says Dad doesn’t want to talk to you. You look like a smart guy, but why do you keep spouting nonsense?”
Zhao Jianhua knew that his remarks were somewhat outrageous, but Aunt Laba's behavior was really unusual.
As the saying goes, where there is a sleeping dragon, there must be a phoenix chick. Isn't that right?
The eldest brother had just finished scolding the third brother with his hands on his hips when the second brother chimed in with a perfectly reasonable expression:
“I think my third brother is right. Maybe Aunt Laba just came to see what Dad’s attitude is. If Dad is nice to her, she might think she has a chance to come into our family and become our stepmother. Maybe we’ll have to force her to attend the banquet soon.”
The Zhao family members: ...
For the first time, the second son's wife felt ashamed of her husband; he was becoming increasingly outrageous. She slapped her forehead hard and made up an excuse before slipping away.
I can't listen to it anymore, I really can't listen to it anymore.
At this moment, Zhao Youcai thought it wasn't good to stay at home and be an old man all the time. There was no reason for the whole family to be working like spinning tops non-stop, so he lay down in the house.
Since we've come all this way, we should at least do some work before we leave.
So Zhao Youcai picked up a small basket from the corner, tiptoed into the chicken coop, and stood there motionless, his eyes wide open.
I glanced at the food trough and water trough; it was obvious that they had just been fed not long ago.
But so many eggs? It doesn't seem like they could be laid in a single day.
Could it be that the daughter-in-law deliberately didn't pick it up, leaving it for the little hen to nest and incubate?
Just then, a hen walked past Zhao Youcai with her rear end sticking out, and found a perfect angle to lay an egg in five seconds with her rear end facing Zhao Youcai.
Zhao Youcai remained silent for a while before bending down to pick up all the eggs and put them into the basket.
It's unclear whether the hen was unhappy about not being praised, but it circled Zhao Youcai twice, clucked a few more times, turned its rear end towards Zhao Youcai, and then performed another five-second egg-laying act.
Zhao Youcai couldn't hold back and blurted out a curse.
"Holy crap, is this a legitimate chicken?"
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