My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 123 Construction Begins

As the saying goes, money gives people courage.

Overjoyed at making so much money from selling the vegetables at home, Wang Susu was also unusually relaxed.

In no time, he had filled most of the notebook with densely packed words about what he wanted to buy.

Chen Ling glanced at it. Besides what he had just mentioned, there were also two sets of bedding and bed rails that needed to be replaced. The last two lines said to buy some good fabric to make him some decent tea clothes, and to buy him a few pairs of leather shoes so that he could wear them when he went out to run errands.

"Susu, write down what you want to buy. Don't always buy me things. I have enough clothes and shoes."

Seeing that nothing on the paper except what was needed at home belonged to Wang Susu, Chen Ling couldn't help but remind her.

Wang Susu was taken aback when she heard this. She blinked while biting her pen, thought for a while, and then looked up at him with a smile: "I really don't have anything I want to buy. We have enough to eat and wear at home. When we got married, my mother gave us some fabric, which has been stored at the bottom of a trunk for two years. If I want to make new clothes, I can just take it out and make them."

"Nonsense."

"That little bit of fabric is only enough to make a few clothes."

Chen Ling pinched her little nose and said, "It's not like we're short of money. The chives were relatively cheap today, so we didn't sell too many. If we brought all the vegetables from home to sell, we could easily become a family with two or three thousand yuan each."

“We’re not like we earn one and spend two. When we can’t save money, think about how many chicken eggs, duck eggs, and quail eggs we’ve accumulated lately. They could sell for a good price. So, my silly wife, our family is different now. You should buy yourself some new clothes.”

"Humph."

"I'll buy it."

Wang Susu dodged his large hand, wrinkled her little nose and snorted at him. Thinking that her family's life was indeed getting better and better, her big eyes curved into crescents.

Today is the 19th day of the seventh lunar month, which happens to be market day in the county town. However, there wasn't much to sell at these markets. After having breakfast, the two of them wandered around the county town for a long time, searching through all the shops and stores before finally buying everything they needed.

By the time I got home, it was almost eleven o'clock.

During this time, he also met Qin Rongxian and Liang Hongyu. The old couple invited them into their home and sat for a while. Before they left, they wanted them to take a few bags of rice and flour with them. They knew that there was a food shortage and were worried that when he built his new house, he wouldn't even have anything to cook for people.

But how could Chen Ling accept it? He had known the old couple for quite some time, from the earliest turtles to the later zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), and now to rice and noodles. Every time he saw the two elders, they would bring him this and that. Apart from providing a few meals and some peanuts and vegetables, he had never given them anything in return.

The thought made Chen Ling feel ashamed. How could he take advantage of two elderly people who were not related to him? He quickly pulled Wang Susu along to persuade them to stop. Then, taking advantage of the excuse of going to the toilet, he slipped into the kitchen and filled two buckets with stream water, only then feeling a little more at ease.

"Actually, what Uncle Qin and Aunt Hongyu said is right. There is a shortage of food everywhere now. Whether it is in the city or the village, everyone is worried about food. Let's prepare in advance, otherwise after the house is built, there will be not much left in the few bags of rice and flour at home."

Wang Susu had clearly taken the old couple's advice to heart and had these concerns.

"Indeed, it's time to stock up on some food. I'll go take a look around tomorrow when I come to sell vegetables."

Chen Ling thought for a moment. Apart from the relief grain they received, the only other thing they had at home was a few bags of flour given to them by Chen Yingqiang. There wasn't much left. In a few days, people would be coming to build the house, and after a few meals, the flour would be gone.

So while hurrying on his way, Chen Ling thought about finding a place in the cave to plant some wheat or rice in the next few days. He wouldn't plant too much, just about half an acre each time. After the harvest, he would find someone to husk and grind the grain, or he could do it himself. The stone mill in the backyard hadn't been used yet.

This is nothing serious.

……

"It's Fugui and Susu."

"Look, Fugui and Susu are back, and they're both alright."

"Fifth Uncle, what's wrong?"

As soon as they entered the village after crossing the dam, the oxcart was surrounded by people, leaving Chen Ling and his companion completely bewildered.

What time did you go to the morning market last night?

"Three o'clock, what's wrong?"

"Did you encounter any wolves on the road?"

Wang Laishun's old face was droopy and dark brown, his eyes were bloodshot, it was clear he hadn't slept well.

Upon hearing this, the young couple immediately understood what was going on, exchanged a glance, and shook their heads in unison.

"We didn't encounter them, but we heard wolves howling halfway down the mountain path. What's wrong, Uncle Wu? Have wolves entered the village?"

"They didn't actually enter the village. If it weren't for the dogs barking all night, waking up everyone, the wolf might have really sneaked into the village."

Wang Laishun sighed deeply.

He looked up at the two of them and said, "It's good that you two are alright. Last night, my eldest son and Lixian were terrified. They took people and searched for you several times along the mountain path with torches. They even went to the market to look for you, but they couldn't find you. They thought something had happened to you."

Chen Ling was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled bitterly. The vegetables were selling too fast; even if Wang Jusheng and the others went looking for them, there probably wouldn't be anyone left.

As they were talking, Wang Jusheng and his wife hurried over with their two children. Upon seeing Chen Ling, they punched him and said, "You little rascal, you scared me half to death!"

Wang Lixian followed closely behind with his family, stepped forward to take a look, and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the young couple were alright: "It's good that you're okay. Last time at my house, they were saying that there are a lot of wolves in the mountains these days, so don't walk at night unless you have to."

Chen Ling responded with a smile and nodded to the group, feeling a warm glow in his heart.

Then, after exchanging a wink with Wang Susu, the two of them grabbed two handfuls of candy from their bundles and distributed them to the children in the crowd, which made the children cheer.

Only then did people notice what was on the oxcart.

"Wow, Fugui's struck it rich! He sold some vegetables and came back with half a cartload of stuff." "Of course, you've struck it rich! Come on, come on, let's all come to my house for a drink this afternoon."

Chen Ling greeted him with a smile.

"What are you drinking for? You're still the same as always, you can't save any money."

"So what if the money's hot?"

"Haha, even Fifth Uncle can't stand it anymore. Fugui, you should save up and treat us to a good meal when you build your house."

"..."

"That's easy. We'll start building a house after we sell all the vegetables, then we'll have meat every meal."

"Wow, you dare to say that? Looks like you've really struck it rich."

Most of the villagers had gotten to know Chen Ling by now, and they were laughing and joking all the way home. When they were almost home, Chen Ling invited them again, but no one was willing to go. They hadn't slept well last night because of the wolves, and they were just about to take a nap after lunch. They didn't have the energy to go to his house for drinks.

So after they got home, they ate a quick meal and rested for a while.

When evening came and the weather cooled down a bit, we delivered some vegetables to each of the families who had come to help us, as a small token of our appreciation.

In the following days, Chen Ling originally planned to go to sell vegetables by herself, but after Wang Susu went there, she also wanted to go with her. Since there was nothing to do at home recently, and she was just staying at home by herself anyway, she decided to take her along.

They went to sell the remaining vegetables six times. Every day after breakfast, the two of them would rush to the city, sell the vegetables, deposit the money, and usually get home around 10 o'clock.

In the first two trips, Chen Ling was the one who negotiated the prices with people, while Wang Susu kept the accounts. Later, when she became more familiar with the business, she also got interested and helped Chen Ling. The two of them asked for exorbitant prices and worked together very well, making a lot more money than before. Chen Ling exclaimed that he had corrupted his little wife.

Wang Susu smiled and did it with great enthusiasm, not only selling vegetables, but also all the chicken, duck, and quail eggs in the house.

Finally, with the 15,000 yuan from selling the eels, the money in the savings account had exceeded 60,000 yuan.

The young wife was so overwhelmed by the sight that she felt like she was dreaming.

“If I hadn’t gone with them every day, I would never have believed that our three acres of vegetables and two baskets of chicken and duck eggs could sell for so much money.”

"Yes, it's just that this year's harvest is good. If we want to sell it for this price again, we won't have the chance."

"That's fine, it's already more than enough."

The young wife was easily satisfied; she sat on the bed holding her savings book, her face beaming with happiness.

Then he did some calculations on his fingers and told Chen Ling that this amount of money could easily support seven or eight children.

Unexpectedly, these words provoked Chen Ling's anger. He took off his shoes and climbed into the mosquito net. Seven or eight dolls would be nice, but they should be brought out first.

"Oh no, I haven't eaten yet."

"I'm not eating anymore, there's something even more filling than rice."

……

Thanks to Chen Ling's hard work every night, more than twenty bags of wheat have been collected in the cave.

When he went to the city to sell vegetables before, Wang Susu reminded him not to forget to buy grain, but she made him make an excuse to postpone it. In fact, the grain in many grain stores and even grain stations was not very good. Many of them were mixed with old grain, and the prices were very high. They were all trying to make a quick buck. Chen Ling was not willing to spend that money unnecessarily.

After selling the vegetables, he went to the city again and brought back a truckload of wheat.

Influenced by his will, the cave could be dehydrated and dried, allowing wheat to be ground into flour without drying, which was quite convenient. So he simply stored it at home, and whenever the family ran out of rice and flour, he would grind it into flour, using it as needed.

The vegetables were sold out, the grain was prepared, and the next step was to build houses. However, before Chen Ling could tell anyone, he only asked a few questions to the city's construction team, and the village was in an uproar.

"Fugui is building a house! Fugui has started building a house! Everyone who doesn't have anything to do at home, come and lend a hand!"

"Here he comes, damn it, this kid is always helping out here and there. Other people's houses are already built and they've moved in, but he's not in a hurry for his own. I've been thinking about him for more than half a month."

"Bullshit! I think you're not after wealth and building a house, you're after freeloading at his house."

"Haha, yes, yes, we have them all."

On the 28th day of the seventh lunar month, a large group of people arrived at Chen Ling's house after breakfast, and the whole yard was full of people.

"Shuiwazi, Dajiang, Laozhu, you guys go to the backyard and tear down the wall first. I'll go to Lihui's house and drive the donkey cart over. We'll cut down the two trees in the backyard later, otherwise they'll be in the way when we're working."

"Uncle Dazhi, Uncle Fugui has an oxcart."

"It's not enough. Besides, your Uncle Fugui has a strange temper. He won't work without him, which is a huge hindrance."

After Chen Dazhi gave some instructions, the Chen brothers, Wang Lishan, and a few others went to the backyard to dismantle the courtyard wall.

Wang Lixian led another group of people to demolish the old house in the backyard. This time, the two of them were in charge. Apart from Chen Guoping, they were the oldest of this generation. In particular, Wang Lixian had been in the construction team for nearly ten years, so his words were convincing.

"Fugui, Fugui, did you borrow the saw?"

"We've borrowed it, which tree should we cut down first?"

Chen Ling drove an oxcart to Chen Sangui's house and brought back a large saw. The trees in the front yard were fine and didn't need much work, but the two old locust trees in the back yard were growing in the wrong place. This time, his own family was also repairing the courtyard, and if they were left, it would greatly affect the work. There was no other way but to cut them down.

(End of this chapter)