Back to 1978: Getting rich starts with treasure hunting

Lin Xue, the eldest sister of the Lin family, is the second child in the family, but the first among girls, so those younger than her call her big sister.

To go to Lin Xue’s in-laws’ house, you have to cross the Qingjiang River.

Qingjiang River is the boundary between towns. Once you cross the river, you belong to another town. It is still more than ten miles to Lin Xue's home after crossing the river.

Even though the Xiaohe Production Team was located in a remote area, Lin Xue's in-laws still had to walk more than ten miles across the river to reach their home. It is conceivable that the village where Lin Xue married was even more remote.

After getting off the ferry, Lin Shu carried the backpack and said, "Comrade Liu Xiao'e, what were you thinking back then? Why did you marry my eldest sister to such a remote place?"

When others marry off their daughters, they have to consider many factors.

The first thing to consider is the village where you live. See if the transportation to your husband's village is convenient. If it is not convenient, no matter how good the conditions are, it will be just so-so. In this era where people don't have to leave the village, whether the village is remote or not is a big advantage.

Liu Xiao'e walked on the narrow path, looking at the lush vegetation around her, and sighed, "It was our first time marrying off our daughter, so we didn't have any experience. The matchmaker was introduced by a cousin from your grandmother's family. We agreed because we saw that the man's family had a lot of laborers."

As she spoke, Liu Xiao'e looked at her and said, "We will have experience when you look for a partner this time, and you can also have a reference. You like a husband's family with convenient transportation. In fact, I think your second aunt's family is not bad."

Lin Shu: “…”

How did the matter concerning my eldest sister get involved with her?

It's a journey of more than ten miles, and you'll pass through several natural villages on the way.

Although these villages are located in remote areas, the houses in the villages are not bad at all. From a distance, they can be seen with blue bricks and black tiles, and the village roads at the entrance are paved with bluestone slabs.

It is obvious that the buildings in these villages are from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China.

Lin Xue's mother-in-law lives in a Chinese-style courtyard house with four water sources converging into the hall. Of course, the construction cost of such a courtyard house is very high. There are four families living in the courtyard, and Lin Xue's mother-in-law's family only lives in the room on the east side.

Lin Shu once asked Liu Xiao'e how Lin Xue's husband's family could live in such a beautiful house when their conditions were not very good.

I learned from Liu Xiao'e that in the nearby villages, the houses with blue bricks and black tiles were basically the large mansions of the landlords.

Later, they were distributed to poor villagers for living, and Lin Xue's in-laws were originally allocated four rooms.

As we approached the Xianfeng Production Team, where Lin Xuepo lived, we saw many more tea oil trees in the woods beside the road.

"Don't think your sister's village is remote, but the resources on the mountain are much richer than our village. Look, this area is full of oil tea. Every year, the production team picks tea leaves and completes the task. After that, each family can get a lot. It is much more convenient to get oil than in our village."

Liu Xiao'e said as she walked, "These mountains used to belong to the landlords. The tea leaves on the mountains were also planted at that time. Also, your sister's village has a lot of bluestones on the mountains behind the village. The spring water flowing out of the cracks in the bluestones is sweeter than the spring water in our village."

Lin Shu thought about the bluestone Liu Xiaoe mentioned and corrected her, "Mom, the bluestone you mentioned is called limestone in books. Generally, the water flowing out of this kind of limestone is very clear."

Liu Xiaoe: "Yes, the water flowing out from the cracks in the rocks is very clear. It is icy and delicious in summer. Another advantage of this water is that the tofu made from it is very soft."

Lin Shu shook the basket on his back with understanding, "So, you asked me to carry ten kilograms of soybeans from home, because you want to make tofu here, big sister?"

Liu Xiao'e laughed and said, "You are the one who can hide anything. Your sister and her family have separated now, so I came here to make some tofu. You don't know that even with the same method, the tofu made by your eldest sister and our family tastes different."

Lin Shu hadn't eaten the tofu from her elder sister's house for decades and couldn't remember what it tasted like. "Is it really as magical as you say? Maybe you put too much or too little gypsum."

"Don't disbelieve me. You'll know after you eat at your eldest sister's house."

Liu Xiao'e greeted the villagers working in the fields: "His Second Grandma, you are still growing vegetables in the fields at your age?"

Lin Shu looked over and saw a white-haired old lady standing on the ground, waving at them: "My dear girl, are you willing to come to see Xiaoxue?"

Liu Xiao'e replied with a smile: "Hey, I've just finished my spring ploughing and came over for a walk."

"Okay, okay, that's your little girl next to you, right?"

"Yes, he is the youngest in my family."

"Good good."

After chatting for a while, Liu Xiao'e said goodbye to the white-haired old lady and walked back to the village. Many villagers along the way would chat with her when they saw her.

"Uncle, is this your private plot? Oh, the peanuts you planted have sprouted."

"Hey, Xiaoxue's uncle is pulling weeds. Is that energetic young man next to him your second or third son?"

"My dear, you are good-looking and energetic. Have you found a partner?"

"His aunt, come and water the vegetables. They are growing so well."

"..."

Lin Shu looked in shock at Comrade Liu Xiao'e, who was so heroic and high-spirited in front of him. He had never realized it before. In the words of later generations, she was a real community hero!

You see, she has only been married to a daughter in this village for a few years, but I am afraid that she is already familiar to the whole village.

Once we entered the village, it became quiet because there were few idle people in the village and everyone was working in the fields.

Lin Shu unscrewed the lid of the kettle and handed it to her: "You must be thirsty after walking all the way. Come and have a drink of water. Maybe we'll run into someone and start a conversation later."

Liu Xiao'e took it and drank a few gulps without hesitation, "You are just a dumb cannon. You can only smile foolishly when you see people."

Lin Shu blinked innocently, "With you, the community leader, in the front, there is no place for me to use my skills."

Besides, she didn't know anyone in the village except her eldest sister's in-laws and the people living in the same yard, so what was there to talk about?

Liu Xiao'e sighed and was quite worried: "With your personality, how will you be able to stand on your own when you get married?"

When I arrived at my eldest sister's house, the door was fastened with an iron buckle, but not locked.

"My eldest sister is not at home."

Liu Xiao'e pushed the door open and went in. "Go in and sit down first. She will be back soon."

Lin Shu was about to ask, how do you know that elder sister will be back soon.

But just as the two of them went in and sat down, before she could ask any questions, they heard footsteps outside and her eldest sister's loud voice.

"Mom, little sister."

"Grandma, auntie!"

After a while, two figures, one big and one small, rushed in from the door. The smaller one rushed towards Lin Shu like a firecracker.

Lin Shu quickly caught it, "Slow down!"

"Aunt, I haven't seen you for a long time. I missed you so much!" The little head rubbed against Lin Shu.

This is my eldest sister’s youngest son, Deng Jun, nicknamed Zhuangzhuang, who is six years old this year.

Liu Xiao'e asked with a smile: "Zhuangzhuang doesn't miss grandma?"

"I want to!" Zhuangzhuang stepped out of Lin Shu's arms and threw himself into Liu Xiao'e's arms again.

Lin Xue poured them two glasses of water. "I was working in the private plot today, and his second cousin went to inform you that you were here. Mom, little sister, has the spring ploughing in our village ended?"

Lin Shu gave Comrade Liu Xiao'e a thumbs up. No wonder she said she would be back soon. It seemed that she guessed that someone would go to inform Lin Xue.

Liu Xiaoe took a sip of water and put down the cup. "Our village is also closed. Your brother and your brother are in charge of the private plots at home."

Lin Xue nodded: "That's good. You and my dad should try to leave the housework to the young people. Don't tire yourself out."

Zhuangzhuang left Liu Xiaoe's arms and clung to Lin Shu again, "Aunt, the fields have been planted. Can I go with you to grandma's house to play?"

"As long as your mother agrees, Zhuangzhuang is welcome to visit our family." Lin Shu took out a few White Rabbit cookies from his pocket and stuffed them into his little hands.

Lin Xue scolded, "You're spoiling him again. No wonder the two brothers always like to stick to you."

Liu Xiao'e smiled and spoke for Lin Shu: "She only has two nephews, Bingbing and Zhuangzhuang. Who else would she love if not them?"

"Mom is right. My two nephews are both good and obedient children. Who wouldn't love such good children?"

As he spoke, Lin Shu took out a bag of milk candy and a bag of glutinous rice sticks from his backpack and asked Lin Xue to put them away. He said that children should be given a little sweetness every day, but they should not eat too much.

Lin Xue went to cook, and Liu Xiao'e followed her into the kitchen.

"Mom, go play with Zhuangzhuang. I'm enough here."

"Don't you have the youngest one to accompany Zhuangzhuang? Tell me, will there be enough food after you split up?"

Lin Xue smiled and nodded: "We can save a little of the food we got when the family was divided to have enough to eat. Mom, you don't have to worry about us."

"is it?"

Liu Xiao'e obviously didn't believe it. She walked to the corner of the kitchen and opened the lid of the rice jar. There was only a little sorghum rice covering the bottom.

"Is this all the food left?"

Without waiting for Lin Xue to answer, Liu Xiao'e turned around and went into the bedroom of Lin Xue and his wife. Besides the wardrobe, there were two beds.

"Mom, we have enough food, you don't have to worry." Lin Xue chased in.

Liu Xiao'e didn't believe her at all. Not finding any food in the bedroom, she climbed up to the wooden attic using the wooden ladder. The attic was usually used as a storage space.

Lin Shu had noticed them a long time ago. After a while, Liu Xiao'e came down from upstairs angrily and poked Lin Xue's forehead in disappointment.

"Tell me, when you divided the family, didn't you know how to get more food?"

Lin Shu walked in holding Zhuangzhuang's hand, "Mom, isn't there enough food at my sister's house?"

Liu Xiao'e snorted coldly: "Last year, after the autumn harvest, the family was divided. Her husband's family only gave them two loads of grain. How could that be enough for them to eat?"

Two loads of grain weigh only 200 kilograms, which weighs more than 100 kilograms when ground into rice. A family of four needs to eat until the summer harvest. How can more than 100 kilograms of grain be enough for six or seven months?

At the end of last year, when she knew that they had divided the family, she specially asked her eldest son to carry over 70 or 80 kilograms of sorghum rice. Otherwise, their family would have run out of food long ago.

Lin Xue lowered her head and rubbed the corners of her clothes. "His second uncle agreed to lend us 100 kilograms of food. With this food, it should be enough for us to eat until the double harvest."

Liu Xiao'e shook her head and sighed, "Why did I give birth to such a stupid girl like you? You are not like other girls who are smart at all. When you are bullied, you just swallow your anger. You two are both strong laborers. According to your work points, you should get more than 200 kilograms of grain."

Lin Shu took the backpack they brought into the bedroom, and Liu Xiaoe pulled out two bags from the backpack: "Here are five pounds of rice and flour each. You can keep them for a meal occasionally to replenish your body. There are also ten pounds of soybeans in the basket. I brought them here to make tofu."

Lin Xue thought that her natal family always cared about her and would bring food every time they came home, but her husband's family did not care about or help, and only wanted to suck their blood. They had no food or money in the past few months since the separation, and she didn't know how difficult their life was.

Whenever I think of these bad things, my eyes can't help but turn red. "Mom, the rice and flour are for you and Dad to nourish your body, why did you bring it to me?"

Seeing her eldest daughter's eyes turn red, Liu Xiao'e felt sad. "Here, just keep it. Last time your younger sister went to the county town and brought back 20 kilograms, we kept some of it. These are for you."

Lin Shu secretly asked Zhuang Zhuang: "What do you usually eat?"

Zhuangzhuang tilted his head and thought for a while: "Drink porridge, eat pickles and eat green vegetables."

Lin Shu stroked his soft hair and asked, "Are you full?"

Zhuangzhuang shook his head: "If I'm not full, my dad said I'll just pee and it'll be gone!"

"Pfft!"

"Your father's description is very appropriate!"

The child's childish words are heartbreaking to hear.

Not long after, my brother-in-law came back with Bingbing.

"Mom, little sister, I heard you guys are here."

Lin Shu saw that the basket in his hand was still dripping with water, "Brother-in-law, what's in your basket?"

Deng Cai placed the basket in front of them and said with a smile, "I heard that you were here, so I took Bingbing to the river to catch some small fish and shrimps. I'll have Xiaoxue fry them in oil later. They'll be very fragrant."

"Why fry? It wastes too much oil. We can just have something casually for lunch." Liu Xiao'e felt sorry for the oil when she heard that they had to fry.

Lin Xue came out of the kitchen and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Mom. We still have ten kilograms of tea oil left from last year. We still have enough oil to fry these fish and shrimps."

When Liu Xiao'e thought about the oil used to fry these fish and shrimps, she covered her chest and frowned: "Don't waste it. The oil used to fry these can be exchanged for a lot of food."

Lin Xue didn't listen to her and asked Deng Cai to clean the small fish and shrimps so that she could fry them later.

Lin Shu looked at Liu Xiao'e's painful expression and couldn't help laughing. He waved Bingbing over and stuffed him with a few White Rabbits. Then he pinched his cheek and asked, "Why are you so tanned?"

Almost catching up with Africans.

"Aunt, how can you afford such expensive candy?"

"Do you know the price of this candy?" Lin Shu was a little surprised.

Bingbing nodded: "There was someone in our class who showed off this White Rabbit candy in class, saying that this candy was the most expensive candy in the supply and marketing cooperative."

As the aunt and nephew were talking, the aroma of fried fish and shrimp came from the kitchen. They couldn't help swallowing and felt even hungrier.

"It smells so good!"

"Oh my, you spendthrift woman, you fried fish with tea oil at no particular time of year. I could smell the fragrance from far away. Are you a starving ghost reincarnated? You are so greedy!"

The fish wasn't fried yet when an old lady came in with droopy eyelids and an unhappy look on her face.

"Hey, is the mother-in-law here to inspect?"

The old lady met Liu Xiao'e's half-smiley eyes, slapped her thigh, and walked forward to hold her hand happily, "Oh, it turns out that my mother-in-law is here. It's been a long time since we last met. The couple didn't even tell me, otherwise I could come and chat with my mother-in-law."

Lin Shu couldn't help but twitch his lips at the speed of his expression changing.

Liu Xiao'e pulled her to sit down and said with a smile: "The spring ploughing is over. I came to visit my daughter while I had time. I didn't know until I came. I was shocked to see that the little food that their family of four got when they separated from the family was not enough to eat.

I came here today and found out that there is less than two kilograms of food left at home. How do you think the four of them survive? We, as parents, feel so sad when we see this.”

The old lady's eyelids twitched, and she was secretly annoyed that she shouldn't have come over just because she smelled the fragrance, and fell into the fire pit without knowing the enemy's situation.

Liu Xiao'e ignored her twitching eyelids and continued, "Our mother's home is too far from your village. Even if I go back to fetch food, it will be too late. Mother-in-law, you are from the same village, just a few steps away. You can't let your son, daughter-in-law, and grandson go hungry, right?"

The old lady pulled the corner of her mouth in dismay, "Can't..."

"You are still reasonable. If you talk to the captain about this matter, the same logic will apply. Parents can't watch their children starve to death. My mother-in-law can't watch me starve..."