Rebirth of a Farmer's Dad

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the village bustled with activity again. This was the happiest time for the children, as they could visit every household in the village to exchange New Year's greetings and receive many good things in return. This was a privilege they couldn't enjoy at other times. You have to understand that this wasn't the materially abundant world of later generations. Back then, most people were still struggling to make ends meet, and it was a blessing if they didn't starve to death.

Early in the morning, Luo Feng got up, opened the door, and set off firecrackers. Afterward, people came one after another with their children to pay New Year's visits. Luo Feng was busy lighting cigarettes and pouring tea for the adults, and stuffing all sorts of snacks into the pockets of the children.

Today is traditionally a day for visiting and exchanging New Year's greetings with villagers. Xinghua had already asked Huzi to take her to visit them. It was something she should have done herself, but because someone had to stay at home, she couldn't leave, so she had Huzi do it for her.

After paying respects to the ancestors, they also had to worship their ancestors and sweep their graves, and Luo Feng and his group did all of these things.

The afternoon was relatively quiet, with nothing much to do. Bored out of their minds, Tiger and Luo Feng each sat outside in the sun, each on a chair.

Xinghua had already run off; now was her official leisure time, since the other children also had nothing to do, so they could play together.

For the next few days, Luo Feng and Hu Zi did nothing.

Originally, from the second day of the Lunar New Year to the tenth, people would visit distant relatives. Generally, they would set off in the morning to pay their respects and return home after lunch.

In rural areas, there are also rules about the timing of New Year's greetings; it's considered unlucky to visit in the afternoon.

But Luo Feng and his friends didn't have this concern. In recent years, Luo Feng had fallen on hard times, and his relatives had gradually cut off contact with him.

Tiger had originally fled with his mother, but his father took them in, which is why they changed their surname. Therefore, he didn't know any of his mother's relatives, and his father's relatives were afraid of his stubborn temper and didn't associate with him.

They lived such a leisurely life until the eighth day of the Lunar New Year.

Because they had made an appointment with Master Wu beforehand, they had to arrive at Master Wu's house the day before the wedding to prepare for the wedding banquet.

Therefore, on the morning of the eighth day of the first lunar month, Luo Feng and Hu Zi took all their equipment and went out.

As for Xinghua, she was left alone at home. The neighbor was informed and asked to keep an eye on her.

Given Luo Feng's current status in the village, he isn't worried about Xinghua being bullied.

They rushed along the road, finally arriving at Master Wu's house before noon. Just then, Butcher Zhao brought over the pig, and Luo Feng and Gu Zi helped slaughter it. Soon, the pig was ready, and the meat was cut into pieces—ribs, shoulder meat, hind leg meat, pork belly, pig's head meat… all neatly categorized and hung in Master Wu's kitchen.

Afterwards, Master Wu invited everyone to stay for lunch. The hungry crowd naturally accepted.

After a hearty meal, Butcher Zhao paid and left. Luo Feng and Hu Zi, on the other hand, had to prepare the dishes according to the menu provided by their employer, and also wash, cut, and plate all the ingredients.

Before they knew it, evening had arrived, and it seemed they wouldn't be able to go home tonight. However, Master Wu had already prepared a room for the two of them, so they didn't have to worry about where they would stay tonight.

The wedding took place as scheduled the next day. The banquet was lively and bustling. However, Luo Feng and his companions were not in the mood to enjoy it. They were busy in the kitchen.

And so, while people were drinking and chatting in the front, the kitchen was bustling with activity, continuing until evening.

In the end, the guests left satisfied with their meal and drinks!

Luo Feng and Hu Zi were both exhausted; they were the type to collapse and sleep anywhere. It had been such a busy day that they hadn't even had time to relax or take a nap.

Master Wu's smile never faded as he looked at Luo Feng and his companion, who were so exhausted they could barely speak. It was clear he was very satisfied with today's meal.

To be honest, Chef Wu was really satisfied. All the relatives and friends who came today kept praising the chef's skills. This made him feel very proud.

In particular, several distant relatives specifically asked him before leaving where he had hired the chef, which greatly satisfied Old Wu's vanity.

That's true, who wouldn't want others to praise them a bit more?

Afterwards, Master Wu readily paid Luo Feng and his companion their wages and even packed up some of the leftovers for them to take home. As for the remaining pork, there were only a dozen or so pounds left, and he was too embarrassed to offer it to Luo Feng, so he simply gave it to them as well.

However, Mr. Wu was truly shocked by the amount of food his relatives and friends ate today. But he wasn't bothered at all; on the contrary, he was quite happy. In the countryside, the host feels proud when the guests are satisfied with their meal.

Perhaps this is the simple and kind side of rural people.

Luo Feng and Hu Zi got home late at night. They didn't even bother to shower before collapsing into bed. As for their belongings, they'd pack them tomorrow!

After that, Luo Feng's reputation in the industry grew. Gradually, many people came specifically to ask him to host weddings or organize wedding banquets.

That's how it is in rural areas. The land is small, and the population is limited. People rely on word-of-mouth trust, what we commonly call reputation. As for the kind of massive advertising campaigns that are common in the market, they simply won't work here. Putting aside everything else, the current conditions simply don't allow for that.

Therefore, doing business in rural areas, especially now, requires honesty and sincerity. Otherwise, you won't build a good reputation with consumers, and your business will certainly fail.

At this moment, Luo Feng is undoubtedly one of the biggest beneficiaries of these words. His business has grown day by day precisely because of this honesty, integrity, and hard work.

Sometimes, the simplicity and kindness of rural people doesn't mean they lack wisdom; they can judge right and wrong with the simplest sense of right and wrong. Those who are opportunistic, cunning, and sly may gain temporary benefits.

However, after being fooled once, the villagers would abandon them and spread the word in their own ways, causing more people to develop a negative impression of them. The end result was a rapid decline in their reputation among consumers, to the point that none of the villagers trusted them anymore.

At this point, they had no choice but to withdraw from the market. The countryside had lost its fertile ground for their survival, and they believed there would be no longer any room for their development.

People living in the countryside are like this: genuine, pure, and unpretentious. If you treat me well, I will naturally treat you with sincerity in return; if you are always wary and calculating towards me, I will naturally ignore you and show you no kindness.

This doesn't mean that rural people are stupid or that they wear their emotions on their sleeves. On the contrary, it's a true reflection of rural people, a genuine portrayal of rural people in this era before they've been corrupted by commercialism.