country bumpkin

Having decided on the business he wanted to do, Kong Xiangguang packed his bags, bid farewell to his elder sister, and returned to the village.

He had to go back and tell his wife, Wang Cuihua, about his idea first. Starting a business required renting a storefront, which would cost a lot of money. All the family's money was with his wife, and he couldn't do it if she didn't agree.

Filled with anticipation and excitement, he spent the entire journey thinking about where to choose a good location and how to persuade his wife to support his business when he got home.

The car drove very fast and quickly returned to Kongjia Village.

Back home, Kong Xiangguang couldn't wait to tell Wang Cuihua about the business deal he had decided on.

As Wang Cuihua listened, her brows furrowed tightly. Kong Xiangguang's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself that his wife was about to object.

To Kong Xiangguang's surprise, Wang Cuihua agreed without hesitation after hearing the story, which made him feel like it was unreal.

He gritted his teeth and pinched his thigh hard; the pain confirmed that he wasn't dreaming.

His eyes widened as he stared intently at Wang Cuihua, tentatively asking, "Wife, you're not joking, are you? Doing business like this is risky; what if we lose money..."

Wang Cuihua rolled her eyes at him. "Would I joke about something like this? I can tell you're determined to do this because you've been so focused on making money lately."

I believe in your abilities, and don't worry about money; I'll use all our savings to support you.

Kong Xiangguang's eyes welled up with tears, and he hugged Wang Cuihua tightly. "Wife, you're so good to me! I'll definitely work hard to make our lives better and better."

In the days that followed, Kong Xiangguang began to busy himself with the business, looking for storefronts and suppliers.

The necessary supplies included large buckets, vats, basins, scissors, a cleaver, and a chopping block. Most importantly, they ordered custom-made large pots, a large stove, and a hair removal machine. Although it was hard work, their eyes were filled with hope.

On the opening day, Wang Cuihua also came to help. Her eldest sister Kong Xiujuan, her eldest sister Kong Xiuzhen, and her second sister Kong Xiufen all came to help.

Lin Junhui was left to look after the clothing store, while his younger sister Kong Xiufang went to help out at her brother's store.

Because Kong Xiangguang runs a wholesale business of dressed chickens, he can hire as many people as he wants.

Anyone can keep up with the pace here; if you can't, you'll be yelled at and told to do this and that.

The daughter-in-law, Wang Cuihua, had a much easier job; her main task was to sell and weigh goods.

Kong Xiangguang's main job is accounting and collecting money, and he occasionally helps out in the back office.

The operating room was a large room with several large empty barrels and vats, as well as large pots, large stoves, and hair removal machines.

The empty bucket was used to put the slaughtered chickens in. The chickens had their blood vessels and air tubes cut off by scissors, and then they were thrown into the empty bucket to flutter around freely.

Once it's completely dead and stops struggling, take it out and put it in a large pot. This pot must be as thick as two people could encircle it.

Five or six chickens were being turned over and over in a large pot, beneath which was a large stove. If the water cooled down, a blower was plugged in, and the fire was being blown so hard that hot steam was billowing out, enough to steam your face if you got too close.

After about 3 minutes, take out a chicken head with both hands and rub it to test its texture. If the feathers seem to melt and come off easily, you can take it out. If you can't rub off the feathers, it means the soaking time is not long enough or the water temperature is not high enough; continue soaking it for a while.

Once it's completely healed, take all the chickens out and throw them into the plucking machine. While turning it on, scoop water and pour it into the large center of the machine.

The plucking machine whirred and churned, water mixed with wet chicken feathers flowing down. When it seemed almost done, the machine was stopped, revealing a large, plucked, white-feathered chicken inside.

Take out all the dressed chickens, put them in a large basin, and blanch and rinse them at the same time.

The internal organs are removed, the last one or two feathers are washed away, and then the chicken is soaked in a large vat filled with cold water. Only after the heat has dissipated is it taken out and placed on the sales table.

This step is essential, especially in summer. If the chicken isn't soaked until it cools down, its belly will be full of heat, and if the chicken lives far from home, it will smell a bit when you get back.

The older sisters and younger sisters were busy working behind the scenes, while the couple sold goods and collected money in front.

Everyone was busy all morning. It wasn't so busy at noon, since most people come to buy groceries in the morning. The vegetables are fresh then, and people buy what they need for the day.

All the children in our hometown were left in Mu Shuyun's care. The older ones went to junior high school in town on their own, while the younger ones walked with their friends to the village primary school.

Aside from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the children really don't need any special care.

The children are all grown up now, and they seem to have it much easier.

That night, Kong Xiangguang and Wang Cuihua did not return to the village. Kong Tongming went to the eldest son's house to sleep, mainly to keep the children company.

The children are still afraid of the dark, just like when they were little. Besides, we can't leave both children at home; the grandparents wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them there either.

Wang Cuihua didn't go back the next day either. It wasn't until the fourth day, when Kong Xiangguang found a middle-aged man to help her, that she returned to the village.

This middle-aged man is a villager from a suburban village. He has been wandering around this market for several days in an attempt to earn money.

Thinking that the market was so busy, he figured someone must need help. So he went from shop to shop asking, and that's how he found someone.

This man had dark skin, perhaps from working in the fields. He wasn't very tall, about 1.65 meters, with big eyes, a big mouth, thick lips, and a full beard, but his face was full of honesty and kindness.

In the village, everyone calls him Lao Hei, but his real name is Bai Zhelin, which sounds quite fancy.

They have three daughters but no sons. Therefore, they are often bullied in the village.

He's 46 years old this year and still has to go out to work to earn money. He's supported all three of his daughters through school. Only his youngest daughter did well enough to get into a good university.

My eldest daughter has been married for several years, but she lives far away and doesn't come back often. My second daughter has been married for three years but hasn't gotten pregnant, and she feels like she's walking on thin ice in her husband's family home.

My youngest daughter is the most promising; she now works for a large joint venture company. However, she's only just started and is still in her probationary period, so she doesn't earn much salary yet.

When the sisters were in school and when the eldest and second eldest got married, they incurred a lot of debt. Apart from what Bai Zhelin earned, the only income for the family came from their two acres of land.

His wife stays at home to manage the two acres of land, while he can only do odd jobs to make ends meet.

Finding this job wasn't easy, so he plans to stay long-term and perform well so his boss won't have the chance to fire him.

Kong Xiangguang was stingy; he made Bai Zhelin work only half a day so that he could save some wages.

Their business is busy in the morning, and there are hardly any customers by noon, so he can watch the shop by himself in the afternoon, without needing two people.