Seeing that Wang Dahe ignored him, Wang Shugen had no choice but to approach him.
He said ingratiatingly, "Dahe, why are you so stubborn? You're in charge of this job. Just let me do the work, and there won't be any problems. I promise I'll do a good job and won't hold you back."
"I'm just trying to make a change, you know. Look at me, I've been going out to chop firewood every day these past few days. I just want to live a good life. We're all from the same village, you can't just condemn me outright. Give me a chance!"
He was secretly planning that if he managed to hook up with Zhao Fang, he would take over Wang Dahe's job.
At that time, he will be in charge of the chickens, ducks and geese in the Lu family's backyard, and no one will notice if he eats a chicken every few days.
Wang Dahe frowned. "Let me think about this."
He had just returned home and finished eating when Wang Shugen's wife arrived.
Dog's mother was carrying a basket with five or six eggs inside. "Brother Dahe, my husband wants to work for the Lu family. Could you please help him out?"
Wang Dahe's face darkened. He was furious about bribery. "How could you do this? I choose people who are physically strong and capable. How am I supposed to explain this to you later?"
Wang Dahe's mother also advised Wang Shugen's wife, "How could you do this, niece-in-law? You're just bringing shame to our Dahe. What if the Lu family finds out and they don't want our Dahe to work anymore?"
Take these eggs back; Dahe can't handle this."
Wang Shugen's wife wiped away her tears, "Auntie, please have pity on me. On the ninth day of the Lunar New Year, Gouzi ran off to the county town and abandoned his old mother."
I have to take care of my whole family, and I'm about to starve. Besides, my husband has been changing his ways these past few days.
He goes out every day to chop firewood on the north side of the western mountains. He wants to live a good life; please give him a way to survive.
Wang Dahe hesitated for a long time before saying, "Okay, go to Lu's orchard first thing tomorrow morning. We should arrive when the sun is shining on the top of Xishan Mountain. If he's not there by then, don't let him do it. As for these eggs, you can take them back; I don't want them."
That woman is right. He should always be given a chance. He was so poor back then, but the Lu family gave him a chance, which allowed him to make a good living.
Now we just hope that Wang Shugen has really improved. If he finds out he's slacking off tomorrow, he'll fire him.
Dog's mother was overjoyed, and after thinking about it, she decided to bring the eggs home as well.
The next morning, the Lu family's orchard became lively.
Wang Lan instructed Zhao Fang to keep an eye on things, as Wang Dahe couldn't manage alone.
Those fruit trees have been carefully nurtured by the Lu family for over ten years; they can't be allowed to be damaged under the pretext of pruning.
Zhao Fang responded and left. Qin Xiaozhou called Qin Jinxiu over, "Take Xiao Si with you, don't let him run around."
Granny Guo had to cook and look after Little Stone, so she couldn't manage so many people.
Qin Xiaozhou carried Xiao Si to the orchard. Most of the villagers wanted to be close to the Lu family and liked Xiao Si very much. They laughed and joked around.
Wang Ershui smiled and approached Zhao Fang, somewhat embarrassed, "Sister-in-law, could you lend me a few branches that you cut from your tree? I heard that these things can be grafted, and I'd like to try it out. Don't worry, I won't take too many."
Zhao Fang knew about grafting. In the first two years after her father-in-law planted the orchard, many of the fruits were not tasty, being astringent and small. Her father-in-law had to find branches from other places and graft them little by little.
Later, with dedicated cultivation, the orchard we have today has grown to its current state, producing plump and juicy peaches, sweet, large, and brightly colored pomegranates, and refreshingly sweet and delicious pears...
An orchard on a hillside—that's the culmination of over ten years of hard work by my father-in-law and husband.
“These branches can all be taken; now is the perfect time for grafting,” Zhao Fang said generously.
If every household had one or two fruit trees, the children would have something to satisfy their cravings, which would be ideal.
The villagers were delighted to hear this and all smiled and said kind words.
Zhao Fang was pleased to hear these words.
While working, Wang Dahe taught the villagers how to graft pear branches to ensure survival. Everyone listened, and when they heard that pear branches could be directly grafted onto the pear trees that covered the mountains, they looked forward even more to the scene of pear trees growing along the ridges and edges of the fields.
Wang Ershui laughed, "The land in my Nanshan area is full of pear trees, and we can't cut them all down. But pear blossoms are also quite delicious, and the fruit is delicious when it's ripe."
But they can't compare to these pears. These pears are definitely better. I'll go graft them tomorrow, and they'll be ready to eat in two or three years.
The others were also thinking about where to graft, and one of them laughed and said, "I also want to graft onto Nanshan's land. When the time comes, everyone will eat from their own land, and we can't take other people's land."
Everyone laughed, "We all have them, so we don't need yours."
Zhao Fang relaxed and walked towards the chicken coop halfway up the mountain. A person came out from behind the chicken coop; it was Wang Shugen.
He grinned, "Ah Fang, you're here?"
Zhao Fang froze, incredulous. "What are you doing here?"
This scoundrel is incredibly lazy. Why would Wang Dahe let him work for the Lu family?
Wang Shugen took a few steps closer and said, "Sister, it's been so pitiful for you to be a widow these past few years. How about I take care of you from now on? You must have a hard time at night without a man."
I just can't bear to see you all alone, so I want to stay by your side. I'll keep this a secret; I won't let anyone else know. I just want to cherish you.
Zhao Fang trembled all over, a lump forming in her throat that she couldn't let out or let go of. Seeing that someone was about to come up below, she didn't want to get entangled any longer, so she turned around and hurried down the mountain.
She only felt a little relieved after running into her house. The sticky gaze felt like it was glued to her, making her feel suffocated and nauseous.
Qin Xiaozhou came out from the backyard, leaning on her cane. "Mother-in-law, what's wrong?"
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