Back to 1978: Getting rich starts with treasure hunting

On the way from the county town to Xiaohe Production Team, an ox cart was moving slowly. The man driving the cart was called Cao Lin.

Cao Lin was wrapped in a military coat and wearing a dog-skin hat. The biting north wind blew straight into his neck.

"Look at the journey you have taken. How many of you have braved the snow to pay New Year's greetings? You have to go back today in such a cold weather. If you catch a cold, I think you will regret it."

"If you don't go back to your parents' home to pay New Year's greetings on the second day of the Lunar New Year, you can afford to lose face, but I can't!"

The woman sitting on the ox cart at the back, also wrapped like a dumpling, was Lin Haiyan from the Xiaohe Production Team.

The two met through a blind date. Lin Haiyan and Aunt Niu were both very satisfied with Cao Lin's appearance. They were also very satisfied with the convenient transportation in his village, which was only two or three miles away from the township, so it was very convenient for him to go out.

After the Chinese New Year means at the end of last year, the two got engaged, and when Lin Haiyan visited Cao's house, the two slept together.

Afterwards, the couple postponed their wedding date several times, and finally held a simple wedding with a few tables on the 22nd of the year.

As the two lived together, Lin Haiyan discovered that Cao Lin also had shortcomings. He was lazy and wanted to delegate everything to others. He was also a chatterbox and a nagging person.

As for other shortcomings, she will slowly discover them.

For example, the first time he went back to his parents' home to pay New Year's greetings after getting married, because it snowed a little, he was afraid of the cold and the difficulty of traveling on the road, so he insisted on waiting two days before coming back to pay New Year's greetings.

The people in her husband's family did not try to persuade him. Instead, they thought he was right and turned to persuade her, saying that it was unsafe to return because of the snow on the road.

If Lin Haiyan hadn't insisted, perhaps her in-laws wouldn't have harnessed the ox cart to let her come back today.

Cao Lin sneered: "You mean it's shameful to not be able to go back to my parents' home because of special reasons? That's ridiculous. Do you think we should go on the journey even if it rains knives and hail? Going back to my parents' home to pay New Year's greetings is as if it doesn't matter what happens. That's too much."

Lin Haiyan glared: "You mean it's wrong for me to go back to my parents' home to pay New Year's greetings?"

Seeing that his wife was about to lose her temper, Cao Lin quickly explained: "Hey, I didn't say that. I didn't say I couldn't come. I meant that there is snow on the road. For safety, we can wait until the snow melts before going out."

Lin Haiyan snorted. She had to come back today. In fact, she had another purpose, which was to meet Lin Shu.

Ever since Lin Shu got married and moved to the city, they haven't seen each other for a long time.

Later, I heard from Dongfa that Lin Shu followed Gu Jiu to the provincial capital. If she missed this meeting in the first month of the lunar year, they would not know when they would meet again.

But today was destined to disappoint her.

"What? Mom, are you saying that the people from the Lin family's eldest branch went to the city to celebrate the New Year and didn't come back for the New Year?"

After returning to her parents' home and sitting down to chat with each other after setting off firecrackers, Lin Haiyan asked about Lin Shu. She learned from her mother, Aunt Niu, that the eldest wife of the Lin family did not come back during the Chinese New Year.

At this moment, Lin Haiyan was a little overwhelmed and full of disappointment.

How could this be?

Don’t people in the countryside come back to worship their ancestors during the New Year?

Aunt Niu waited for her daughter to finish her hot tea, then refilled her cup and also refilled her son-in-law's cup.

“I heard that your uncle and aunt Lin went to the city to help Lin Shu run the store, and Dongfa went to the city to help her manage a business that is bigger than the county town’s store. Even He Caiyun and Lu Yinhua went to the city to help.

I see, his eldest family is now rich, and the whole family has basically moved into the city, unlike us who still have to work hard in the fields to plow the soil after winter."

Bringing the whole family into the city was all thanks to finding a good son-in-law.

It would be a lie for Aunt Niu to say she wasn't envious, but she didn't dare say it in front of her son-in-law, for fear that he would lose face and take it out on her daughter.

"Xiaoyu and Xiaoshuang are going to school at the beginning of the new year. Their second sister-in-law should be back, right?"

Lin Haiyan was thinking about how to contact Lin Shu. If Lu Yinhua came back, she could go and ask about Lin Shu's situation.

"Who knows? I was thinking of sending an invitation to Lin Shu when you got married so that you can have a good relationship with her. If she recruits people in the store in the future, you two can go to the city to work.

What a pity…"

Aunt Niu shook her head regretfully. The girl went to the provincial capital with her husband.

"It's not that easy to get into the city. The Lin Shu you're talking about brought the Lin family to the city because they are a family. You asked her to bring us to the city, but she's not bored and doesn't need to work so hard for us."

Cao Lin felt that his wife and mother-in-law were a little whimsical. So many people wanted to move to the city, so how could an outsider be willing to help?

Besides, it's no good.

You may not know that a work quota in the city is now sold for three hundred to five hundred yuan.

Lin Haiyan frowned slightly: "She has her own shop, why would she bother to work for her?"

"Do you say that she trusts you or her family? Between her family and you, anyone with a sound mind will choose her family." Cao Lin shook his head.

Lin Haiyan did not argue with him about this issue, but turned to ask Aunt Niu, "Mom, how many married women in our village have returned to pay New Year's greetings today?"

Aunt Niu glanced at Cao Lin and recalled how many times firecrackers had been set off in the village today. "There should be about ten people coming back."

Lin Haiyan turned her head and glanced at Cao Lin, then said leisurely, "Then a dozen or so are not a small number."

Aunt Niu didn't know what kind of lawsuit the couple was involved in. When she talked about the girls who married out of the village, she thought of Lin Mei, who got married a few months earlier than her own daughter.

"Mei Zi also came back today. I admire her a lot. She came back at this time with a big belly and she wasn't afraid of falling."

Lin Haiyan was surprised for a moment: "Mei Zi is pregnant?"

"Yes, I heard from her mother that she is almost three months pregnant." Aunt Niu patted her daughter's hand and said, "You two should work hard and try to have a baby by the end of this year."

When talking about having children, the newlyweds were inevitably shy. They looked away from each other and tacitly agreed not to respond to the matter.

Fortunately, at this moment, footsteps were heard at the door.

"Is Aunt Niu home?"

"I'm at home." Aunt Niu stood up and went out to greet her. Seeing that it was Mei Zi who was wearing a floral jacket, she smiled and said, "Oh, it's Mei Zi. Come in and sit down. My Haiyan is back to pay New Year's greetings today. It's a good time for you sisters to chat."

During the Chinese New Year, everyone visits each other, and no matter if they have any disagreements with each other, everyone will greet them with a smile and not show any grudges.

Besides, the Xie family opened a small grocery store in the village, not far from their Xiaohe Village. Whenever the family was short of needles and thread, she would go to the Xie family next door to buy them.

So, everyone has to save face.

"Aunt Niu, Happy New Year."

Mei Zi stuffed the bag of melon seeds in her hand into Aunt Niu's arms, walked into the house and saw Lin Haiyan and Cao Lin standing by the stove warming themselves by the fire.

She rolled her eyes and walked forward with a smile: "Haiyan, Happy New Year, and Brother-in-law Cao also Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year, Happy New Year." Cao Lin nodded with a smile.

"Mei Zi, sit down. I'll go get you a cup of water." Aunt Niu scattered the melon seeds on the table for everyone to eat, then went to get the thermos to pour water.

"Okay, thank you, Auntie." Lin Mei glanced around the room and asked, "Auntie, are the brothers at home out playing?"

"They have no time to spare, so they went to the village to find someone to play cards with."

Lin Haiyan sat next to him and watched coldly. She found that after not seeing him for a few months, he was now much more eloquent. "Why did you think of my home today? Didn't your husband come back with you to celebrate the New Year?"

"We are both married women, and we only have time to meet during the New Year and other festivals. I'm bored at home, so I came to your house and chat with you."

Seeing that Lin Haiyan ignored her, Lin Mei couldn't help but smile helplessly: "My brother Jie is at home chatting and playing cards with my dad. I just can't stand the smell of their cigarettes, so I came out to get some fresh air."

Lin Haiyan nodded. She believed what he said. "I heard that your husband opened a grocery store in the village for you to manage. You don't have to work in the fields at home?"

"Hey, I don't have much. I just sell some small things to earn some money for my family."

"Really? That's not bad, at least you don't have to follow your parents-in-law into the fields."

People in rural areas are still envious of not having to work in the fields, and Lin Haiyan is no exception.

Lin Mei's smile faltered. She was also very angry when she mentioned the grocery store. "Don't mention it. My mother-in-law has been in charge of the store for the past two months in winter. I occasionally help out."

When Lin Haiyan heard this, she became excited. There must be something going on here.

"What's wrong? Didn't your husband build this shop for you? Now your mother-in-law has taken over the management rights? Why are you so useless? Even the things your husband gave you were taken away by your mother-in-law. Where is your usual cleverness?"

Lin Mei had a headache when she mentioned this matter. She sighed and said, "That old woman loves to make trouble and is not easy to get along with. It was Brother Jie who took care of the shop from the purchase to the opening. He wanted me to have an income at home.

It was Brother Jie's good intention. Since Lin Shu held a wedding last time, I came to my parents' house and let her run the shop for a day, and I put all the money from the sales into my own pocket.

Since then, she likes to say from time to time that she helps us look after the store, but she never gives us the money after receiving it. If she takes the money but doesn't give it to us, how can the store make money? If it doesn't make money, how can it have money to buy goods? Now when it comes to this matter, Brother Jie is also very annoyed. "

"I understand what you mean. Your mother-in-law is a person who only takes in but does not spend."

Lin Haiyan knew that the old lady of the Jie family was a powerful person, but she didn't expect that she was so shameless.

The so-called shameless and invincible person should be like her.

At this time, Aunt Niu said with a worried look on her face: "If she takes the money and refuses to give it out, you will suffer in the long run. You should know that Chunlei has two younger brothers, and she has more than one son."

Lin Mei nodded: "As long as we get married, the money she holds in her hands will definitely not belong to us. She has to take care of her son."

"That's right." Aunt Niu nodded.

Cao Lin sat beside them, eating melon seeds and drinking tea. He was secretly amazed at the conversation between the women. How could such a small family have so many conflicts?

Fortunately, he is the only son in his family, and his parents' property will belong to him no matter what in the future, and no one will compete with him for it.

Lin Mei took a deep breath and asked with a smile: "Haiyan, do you know which street Lin Shu's store is located in the county town?"

Yes, the real purpose is revealed.

Lin Haiyan finally understood the purpose of Lin Mei's visit today.

This was her purpose, she wanted to know about Lin Shu's situation, she herself didn't know so she wanted to get information from her.

"I don't know. I haven't seen her for several months."

"She's your best friend, so why didn't she even tell you? She's really disloyal."

Lin Mei didn't quite believe it, and her eyes couldn't help but show some suspicion.

Lin Haiyan noticed Lin Mei's distrust of her, and for no reason her heart sank. "You are her cousin, why didn't she tell you?"

Lin Mei laughed and said, "I haven't seen her for several months."

"I haven't seen her for several months. If she doesn't come back, how can I know her situation?" Lin Haiyan rolled her eyes at her.

"Your temper is like a firecracker, and you get irritated at any moment. Please speak nicely on New Year's Day." Aunt Niu admonished her child.

Lin Haiyan curled her lips, glanced at Lin Mei, and asked curiously: "Hey, do you have something to do with Lin Shu?"

Lin Mei drank a sip of hot water, put down the cup, hesitated for a while, and then told her the purpose of looking for her.

"I heard that she has a store in the county town that does both retail and wholesale, so I thought about going to her store to wholesale some goods and sell them in my shop."

The goods that Xie Chunlei buys from the supply and marketing cooperative are not of many varieties, and the supply and marketing cooperative will not wholesale some of the in-demand goods to them.

The goods are not complete, and I make money by selling some small commodities, but in the end I make less money.

This was also the result of her discussion with Jie Chunlei. Both of them wanted to buy more goods from Lin Shu's store.

Lin Shu, who was far away in the county town, didn't know that someone in her hometown was thinking about her.

After visiting my parents’ home on the second day of the Chinese New Year, it was already the sixth day and almost all the snow on the road had melted.

Shuttle buses from the county to various places also started operating.

Lin Gang and Fang Hong have been delayed for a few days, and they have to take a bus back to work today.

Lin Dongfa also wanted to go back to the city today to open a shop and do business.

But considering that Lin Shu had told him that he wanted Lin Xue and his wife to go to the city with him to help this year, he decided to delay for another day considering that the snow would melt and Lin Xue and his family would come to pay New Year's greetings today.

Lin Shu and Gu Jiu got the news and rode their bicycles slowly over. Lin Xue's family had not arrived yet, but they saw Ding Zaichun lying on the counter chatting with a girl.

Gu Jiu also naturally saw Ding Zaichun lying on the counter: "Look at his sly smile. Is he in love?"

The two men parked their bicycles on the side of the road with their feet resting on the curb.

Lin Shu wanted to see what the girl looked like, but unfortunately she had her back to her. She was afraid of disturbing their conversation if she went over to see her, and her curiosity was as intense as a cat scratching itself.

"Who is that girl? Could she be a neighbor living nearby?"

Gu Jiu nodded thoughtfully: "It's possible. If your second aunt knew that he had a girl he liked, do you think she would laugh so hard that she couldn't close her mouth?"

"Let's go in through the main gate first." Lin Shu steadied the handlebars of the bicycle and pushed the bike towards the main gate of the old house.

Gu Jiu hurried to catch up.

Ding Zaichun noticed the two bicycles passing by and smiled at the girl at the counter, "Do you need anything else? If there is anything you need that is not in the store, we will try our best to find it for you. However, you need to pay a deposit, and you can pick it up when the goods arrive."

"There's nothing else left. Remember to get the tape I want." The girl smiled and waved her hand.

Ding Zaichun smiled and agreed readily.

Lin Shu and Gu Jiu parked their bikes and rushed to the store, but there were no more pretty girls outside the counter.

"What are you looking for?" Ding Zaichun saw Lin Shu looking around as soon as he came in, and asked deliberately even though he knew what was going on.

Lin Shu smoothed the hair around her ears and smiled: "I'm not looking for anything. How's business today?"

"It's just so-so." Ding Zaichun nodded and smiled at Gu Jiu.

Lin Shu: “…”

This man is not cute at all.

Disappointed!