My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 33 Small talk
"The village will start redistributing land tomorrow. I'll come help you after the land is distributed."

After the meal, Wang Lixian noticed the changes in Chen Ling. He hoped that Chen Ling would study hard and live a down-to-earth life.

Then, when Wang Jusheng mentioned during dinner that the plot of land Chen Ling had acquired from Erzhu had sprouted grass this year, and that if it were properly tended, it might be just as good as fertile land in a couple of years, he was willing to lend him a hand.

"Huh? Brother Xian, you're not going out this year?"

Chen Ling paused for a moment, then asked.

"I'm not going. They still haven't paid more than half of my wages. I don't even know if I can get them back. That bastard is so unreliable."

"Otherwise, my family wouldn't be unable to afford meat during the Chinese New Year."

Wang Lixian spat angrily.

"Huh? Isn't Brother Xian working with that stinky soldier's construction team from the village?"

"Is this kid just like Erzhu's best friend, and is there still the wage he can't get back?"

Wang Jusheng asked in surprise.

“This time it’s different. The project is in the city, and it was a big boss from Hong Kong who came to fund the building. He just ran away without a word. What good are those people Erzhu knows in the county?”

Wang Lixian sighed, reached into his pocket to take out tobacco leaves, and prepared to roll a cigarette.

Seeing this, Wang Jusheng quickly offered his own cigarette, saying, "Brother Xian, have one of mine."

At first, this guy didn't know what to talk about with Wang Lixian, and his speech sounded stiff.

The main problem is that the two of them don't have anything in common.

After a few drinks, Wang Jusheng became intoxicated and stopped caring about anything else, talking a lot.

He would chime in when Chen Ling spoke, he would chime in when Wang Lixian spoke, and he would even tease the two little guys when Heiwa and Xiaojin barked.

After playing with it, you still have to ask Chen Ling how he managed to raise the puppy when he brought it home before it was even weaned.

He kept talking non-stop, like Tang Sanzang chanting scriptures.

Then, after lighting a cigarette for Wang Lixian, he asked, "Brother Xian, how's your pay on the construction team now?"

Wang Lixian didn't hide anything from him, took a puff of his cigarette and said, "Last year it was fifteen yuan a day."

"Wow! Four hundred and fifty a month! That's more than a high school teacher's salary!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Jusheng exclaimed in surprise.

Chen Ling laughed and said, "That's only the kind of treatment that Brother Xian gets. For an ordinary worker, two hundred yuan a month is considered good."

"Yes, Fugui is right."

"I've been doing this for over ten years, and this is all the wages I've earned. It's not much."

"Besides, they still owe me more than half of it."

Wang Lixian smoked a cigarette and smiled faintly.

This was just casual conversation; Wang Lixian wasn't the type to complain to everyone he met.

However, as Chen Ling listened, he could sense the hardships Wang Lixian had endured.

Not only are there many children in the family, but his wife and eldest daughter are also mute. His eldest daughter is not much younger than Chen Ling and will soon be of marriageable age, making it difficult for her to find a husband.

Not only that, his fifth child will also be taking entrance exams this year, and his sixth daughter is also of primary school age, so the tuition and fees are not a small amount.

He had to shoulder the burden alone, which put him under considerable pressure.

"Ah Ling, Ju Sheng, the porridge is ready. You two should have a bowl of porridge to soothe the effects of the alcohol."

Just then, Wang Susu brought over a pot of steaming hot porridge.

This is the porridge that was just made. Everyone else has already had some, except for Chen Ling and Wang Jusheng, who were drinking and didn't have time to drink, so it got cold.

"No, no, I really can't drink anymore."

Wang Jusheng waved his hand and said that the food was so delicious that he was so full that he could not drink any more porridge.

"If Brother Jusheng doesn't drink, then give me a bowl."

Chen Ling handed over the bowl; the porridge from her own home was good stuff and shouldn't be wasted.

"Fugui, when did you start eating so much?"

Good heavens, even Wang Lixian was speechless when he saw it.

"That's right, my stomach is about to burst, and you eat just as much as I do, but your stomach isn't bulging at all."

Wang Jusheng muttered something, patting his bulging belly, looking quite puzzled.

"Haha, this is still before I let go. If I let go, I could eat a whole cow."

Chen Ling, holding his bowl of porridge, boasted. The others, of course, didn't believe him. They chatted and laughed, and soon it was past nine o'clock.

"Oh dear, I got so caught up in talking that I forgot the time. It's so late, I should go home!"

Wang Jusheng rubbed his bleary, drunken eyes, and after standing up, his belly was bulging like a pregnant woman's, clearly indicating that he had eaten too much and his stomach hadn't yet recovered.

Not only him, but also Wang Lixian and Liu Nier, especially Liu Nier, whose belly was much larger than her father's. When she stood up, her belly was as big as a small watermelon.

"Yes, my son and I went back too."

"Susu, get a flashlight for each of Xian-ge and Ju-sheng-ge, it's quite dark outside."

Chen Ling patted Liu Ni'er's head and said.

In those days, there were few electrical appliances in rural areas, and no streetlights. By nine o'clock, it was already pitch black, and you couldn't even see your hand if you stretched out your arm.

It was so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

"No need, no need, I live nearby, it's just a short walk away."

Wang Lixian waved his hand, refusing to take it.

Wang Jusheng was drunk and trying to be tough, so Chen Ling had to force him to accept the food.

"Fugui, I'll come help you again tomorrow!"

Wang Jusheng pushed the cart unsteadily, not forgetting to throw out a remark.

"Hey, this guy..."

"Much more troublesome than Brother Xian."

Watching them leave, Chen Ling smiled and shook his head.

"It's good to have a lively atmosphere."

Wang Susu smiled and took Chen Ling's arm, clearly in a good mood.

Indeed, who in the village used to associate with Chen Ling?
Even when people visit his home, besides seeing his family make a fool of themselves, the elders usually advise Chen Ling to do something good.

Wang Susu was naturally very happy, having never been so joyful and lively before.

They were even more convinced that Chen Ling wanted to change for the better.

……

For the next few days, Chen Ling spent his time clearing the wasteland.

Wang Jusheng helped out every day, and although Wang Lixian couldn't come because of other matters, he still brought his second son-in-law's donkey.

Donkeys and horses can plow the land faster than oxen.

Two donkeys or two horses can plow the field as efficiently as a small tractor.

Furthermore, since Erzhu's father had repaired it, it is relatively flat.

They plowed three or four mu of land in the morning and another three or four mu in the afternoon. In just a few days, they had plowed most of the thirty mu of land.

There are still more than ten acres of land left to be plowed. Chen Ling plans to keep them to plant some grains and vegetables, dig a pond, plant some lotus flowers, and raise some fish.

After finishing with the land, Chen Ling and Wang Jusheng had lunch together and then headed towards Wang Laishun's house.

Chen Ling was there to return the donkey cart, while Wang Jusheng was there to check on how his family's land allocation was going.

When they arrived at Wang Laishun's house, many villagers were talking outside the door, discussing who had received a good land allocation and who had received a bad one.

People say things like, "It's really bad luck to be neighbors with so-and-so," or "So-and-so is so unreasonable, always taking away other people's land. Being neighbors with him for a few years means losing three-tenths of your land."

The group was talking animatedly when they suddenly saw Chen Ling and Wang Jusheng approaching, and they all stopped talking.

I've heard from many people these past few days that Wang Jusheng and Chen Ling are hanging out together. In fact, not only have I heard it from others, but I've also seen Wang Jusheng helping Chen Ling plow the fields several times.

But seeing these two together now still surprises me.

It's unbelievable that the only college student in Chenwangzhuang would hang out with Chen Ling, the laziest and most uncouth man in the village.

At this moment, Chen Ling took the peanuts and vegetables off the donkey cart and went into Wang Laishun's house.

I've used their donkey cart for almost half a month, so I should at least show my appreciation.

Even though Wang Jusheng said several times that he didn't need it, his father had already separated from his two brothers. The donkey was raised by his father, not his. One thing is one thing.

"Oh, Fugui is here! Come in and have a seat!"

Upon seeing that Chen Ling had brought something again, Liang Guizhen was very enthusiastic this time. She had inquired and learned that greenhouse vegetables were a good thing.

If you go to the county town's vegetable market, it costs two yuan per pound, which is expensive!
(End of this chapter)