Chapter 246: “this Gossipy Woman”
“Something happened.” Gu Qingzhou said to Lin Zhao, slowing down his bike.
Lin Zhao didn’t slow down but sped up instead, “Let’s go take a look.”
“Third Sister-in-law——!” Gu Qingzhou shouted helplessly, but ate a mouthful of dirt.
Heng Bao urged, “Uncle, hurry and catch up, hurry and catch up with my mom, I also want to go watch the excitement.”
Yu Bao kept poking his head out from the back seat, looking toward the village entrance, his tone full of urgency, “Uncle, there are bad guys there, I need to protect my mom and younger brother and sister, hurry and pedal the bike.”
Gu Qingzhou was urged relentlessly, his foot slipped forward, he sat on it, and pedaled extremely fast.
“Wait, don’t rush to the front later, stay far away, your mom and Qian Bao and Yao Bao have me.” He shouted instructions to the two kids.
Yu Bao and Heng Bao knew the severity and both agreed.
Approaching the village entrance, Lin Zhao stopped two meters away.
She called Bang Bang over to push the bike, had him take the dragon-phoenix twins far away, and rushed into the crowd to watch the excitement herself.
“……Brigade Leader Ye, your brigade must give us an explanation. Either return our cow dung, or take us to cultivate mushrooms, if you don’t agree, we won’t leave!”
People from the two brigades confronted each other holding “weapons.”
The leader was a young man who looked very intimidating, and he loudly stated the demands.
Hearing this, the people from Fengshou Brigade were unhappy.
“Why? No, no, absolutely not! Opening your mouth to steal someone’s rice bowl, who gave you the face!” Wang Chunhua said angrily.
Her family followed the Gu Family in cultivating mushrooms and this time also got over ten shares, buying candy for Da Zhuang and the others, making them overjoyed. With candy to eat, the children became more diligent and sensible. Everything was improving, and anyone trying to steal their rice bowl was an enemy!
The Brigade Leader’s Wife was also furious, she rushed forward, her finger nearly poking the speaker’s face.
“Have some shame! We used your brigade’s cow dung for compost, but wasn’t it borrowed, and didn’t we return dung to you later? Why are you coming now, what’s up, heard our brigade is earning money, can’t sit still anymore?”
Her words were harsh, Brigade Leader Ye pulled her arm, “Say less, it’s chaotic enough.”
“I won’t, why should I say less.” The Brigade Leader’s Wife was furious.
She still wanted the brigade’s mushroom cultivation to thrive.
The Brigade Leader’s Wife from a rich brigade was very different from one from a poor place.
She admitted she was vain, cared about face, and liked being flattered by others.
Whoever dared to ruin her affairs, she’d scratch their face.
The woman turned the gun on her own man.
“Are you still a man? They’ve come to our doorstep, and you’re still talking nicely to them, what to talk about, I say just drive them out!”
Brigade Leader Ye’s face turned ashen.
What the hell?
Was he not a man, how did Dahai and the others come about?!
Popped out from a crack in a rock?!
This melon wife.
He looked at his eldest son holding the shovel on guard, and angrily said: “Dahai, drag your mom away, she’s just causing trouble!”
Dahai grabbed his mom’s left arm with his left hand, supported her shoulder with his right, and forcefully took her away.
“I’m not leaving! Stinky boy, why are you pulling me, let go, I need to help your dad……” The Brigade Leader’s Wife, being a woman, naturally couldn’t match the strength of her son in his prime, so she had to be dragged away.
With the noisiest person gone, the Brigade Leader steadied the scene.
He looked at the people from the neighboring brigade, smiling insincerely.
“Does your brigade leader know you’re here causing trouble?”
Of course they knew.
The brigade leaders from several surrounding brigades knew that Fengshou Brigade was about to soar, so who dared to offend them to death.
The leading man’s face stiffened, just about to say something, when a familiar roar came from behind.
“Gao Jiang!”
Hearing this, the burliest man, his dark face showed guilt, that thuggish air vanished.
He turned back, scratched his head, “Uncle, how come you’re here?”
The shouter came forward in big strides, raised his hand and smacked his head.
“You ask me, but you, what are you doing running to Fengshou Brigade?”
The man obediently took the hit and honestly said: “Nothing, I’m here to ask Brigade Leader Ye to take us to cultivate mushrooms.”
The people from Fengshou Brigade’s mouths twitched.
Ask?
Was that an asking attitude?
They almost fought!
Pairs of eyes glared angrily at the back of Gao Jiang’s head, wishing they could grab a clod of dirt and smash him.
Gao Shian just glanced and knew Gao Jiang had caused trouble again.
He glared at him irritably and apologized to the people from Fengshou Brigade.
“……This nephew of mine is a fool, speaks without thinking, if he said anything offensive, everyone please don’t hold it against him.”
He was familiar with Brigade Leader Ye and said without leaving gaps: “This is that fool I mentioned, foolish but no malice, as I told you, you know, right?”
Brigade Leader Ye was speechless.
“Not foolish, looks just like a street thug.” He commented.
Then grumbled, “Whose fool acts so cocky, bringing people to stir trouble at the door.”
Gao Shian glared at Gao Jiang with his eyes.
Look at the trouble you’ve caused.
The tall and sturdy young man hung his head, couldn’t help but mutter, “I didn’t stir trouble, I came to learn mushroom cultivation.”
The next instant, he lifted his head again, his not-so-bright eyes full of persistence, “If you don’t teach, fine, but don’t curse, you can curse me, but not my parents.”
Brigade Leader Ye was stunned, “Who cursed your parents?”
“Your wife!” Gao Jiang said indignantly.
“……” Brigade Leader Ye’s face turned ugly.
The wife offended people again.
Now he had to apologize.
“This…… I really didn’t know……” Brigade Leader Ye also knew his wife’s sharp tongue, especially when angry, her words were even harsher.
“She didn’t mean it.”
“You know, how hard it is to have a money-making livelihood, she thought your brigade came to steal our livelihood, spoke a bit harshly, didn’t mean it.”
After all, they were “neighbors,” the Brigade Leader had to give face to the neighboring brigade.
Back during the resistance war, everyone helped each other to protect their homeland, no reason now that days were better, to poke each other’s hearts.
Gao Jiang reacted quickly this time, embarrassedly replied, “……I’m not right either.”
“You know it, now hurry back to the village, your mom is searching the whole village for you, says she’ll break your legs.” Gao Shian scared him.
Gao Jiang’s face changed slightly, didn’t verify, immediately ran toward his own brigade, kicking up clouds of dust.
Heng Bao was close, watched the excitement enthusiastically, ate a mouthful of dust.
He spat spat spat several times, his little face puffed up angrily, “Dirt got in my mouth, so gross, spat——!!”
Yu Bao asked Lin Zhao for the water kettle, Lin Zhao handed it over.
“Heng Bao, drink water, gargle a few times, then spit it out.”
Heng Bao took a big gulp, gargled a few times, spat out the water, his mouth much drier.
Lin Zhao lowered her head, her bright beautiful eyes glancing at him.
“Told you to stay far away, you didn’t listen, bad luck, huh?”
Heng Bao pouted, “Mom, I’m unlucky enough, can you not say sarcastic things?”
Lin Zhao hugged her arms, lightly hummed, “No, the mouth is on me, I say what I want.”
Yu Bao stood on mom’s side, looking at Er Zai, somewhat dissatisfied: “You’re not obedient. Grandpa just said to listen to mom, you didn’t, like this, I also want to say sarcastic things.”
“I didn’t not listen.” Heng Bao quibbled.
His little mouth full of reasons, “Too far and can’t see anything, I’m too short, can’t squeeze through those adults.”
Yu Bao’s little face serious, “Too close and you’ll get knocked down, big feet will step on you, mom will worry, only bad kids do that.”
Heng Bao still cared about mom, thought quickly, said: “Then I won’t squeeze forward next time.”
“Mm.” Yu Bao was very satisfied, quietly raised his eyes, sneakily looked at Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao’s gaze was on the Brigade Leader and others, but she also kept some attention on the twins.
Hearing Da Zai teaching Er Zai, the corners of her mouth curved slightly.
She turned her head, rubbed Yu Bao’s little head, arm around him.
The little friend raised the corners of his mouth.
Seeing this, Heng Bao darted to Lin Zhao’s other side, grabbed her hand, put it on his shoulder too, mimicking being held, then covered his mouth laughing.
First time watching excitement with mom and brother, fun.
Hope there are more such opportunities later.
The center of the topic.
Brigade Leader Ye and the neighboring brigade’s Brigade Leader Gao Shian reached a consensus, today’s farce was over.
Not only that, Gao Shian also got an excellent piece of news.
——Next, the entire commune would promote mushroom planting technology.
He widened his eyes, mouth trembling, “Old Ye, you serious?”
Brigade Leader Ye said: “Would I fool you? The secretary said, the commune plans to build our place into the nation’s number one mushroom base. Such a big goal, how could our brigade alone achieve it? Must mobilize the strength of all brigades, right?”
Gao Shian was both happy and worried.
“This……Mushroom cultivation needs cow dung for compost, right? With our brigade’s bit, not enough, huh?”
Brigade Leader Ye: “No problem, secretary said they’ll contact the farm, no need to worry about cow dung.”
The commune secretary had great prestige, Gao Shian deeply trusted his words.
He paced happily in place.
“When to start cultivating?” Gao Shian asked.
He rubbed his hands, “……Mushrooms sell better in winter.”
“Seeing your brigade earn money, not just the members, even I can’t sit still.”
Brigade Leader Ye shook his head, “Can’t eat hot tofu if impatient, wait.”
Gao Shian sighed, but didn’t pester more.
He returned to the brigade, told the good news to the brigade’s members, the villagers went wild with joy.
“Brigade Leader, you serious?”
“Fengshou Brigade willing to teach us mushroom cultivation technology?”
“Brigade Leader, when to cultivate? Heard we need to build mushroom rooms, are we building?”
“Not just building mushroom rooms, also need to compost, how to pile the compost?”
……
Gao Shian raised his voice, “Details on how, wait till we discuss and issue notice, don’t rush everyone. Rest assured, I got confirmed news, our brigade learning mushroom cultivation is a done deal, follow the higher-ups’ instructions, next don’t cause trouble, families supervise each other, I warn upfront, whoever ruins the brigade’s big affairs, don’t blame me the Brigade Leader for not showing mercy.”
This carrot-and-stick approach he used smoothly.
The cold wind couldn’t cool the members’ hearts.
The Brigade Leader’s warning couldn’t extinguish people’s enthusiasm.
The next few days, every household was joyful, at night dreaming of eating their fill and wearing warm clothes.
Time flew by.
This day, each brigade’s Brigade Leaders received notice, came to the county for a meeting.
It was about mushroom planting.
Everyone had heard about it.
With confirmed news, the Brigade Leaders were all excited.
Crowding around Brigade Leader Ye to get close, say nice words, hoping their brigade becomes the first pilot, learn mushroom cultivation technology early.
Brigade Leader Ye’s smile wouldn’t fade for half a day, cheeks aching.
The little old man stood straight, face glowing red.
Old Gu was his lucky star.
After this meeting, all brigades in the entire commune bustled——building mushroom rooms, piling compost……mushroom cultivation action was in full swing.
Gu Fu suddenly became the commune’s technician, busy feet not touching ground.
He alone couldn’t manage, simply brought along Gu Yuanshan and Gu Yucheng.
At the same time, Fengshou Brigade had an extra Epidemic Prevention Station.
Brigade Leader Ye’s family’s Dahai got in as wished, the young man walked with wind in his step.
The Brigade Leader’s Wife went crazy happy, secretly stuffed a gift of gratitude at the Gu Family’s home door.
This action scared Zhao Liuniang badly.
“……Third Sister-in-law, you didn’t expect it either, right?” Zhao Liuniang came to the third branch to chat, told Lin Zhao this as fun news, “Aunt Ye was never generous, always taking others’ cheap, never seen anyone get cheap from her, didn’t expect she’d send gifts to our home……”
Lin Zhao was also surprised, asked: “The stuff?”
Zhao Liuniang reluctantly said: “Mom sent it back!”
A basket of eggs, she really thought it a pity to return.
“No merits, no rewards, right not to accept.” Lin Zhao said.
Her man was a soldier, he was upright, family members also needed high awareness.
Couldn’t have Gu Chenghuai fighting ahead, family dragging behind.
She wouldn’t allow it!
Zhao Liuniang: “How no merits, there are merits, big merits.”
She enviously said: “Tie Niu’s Father even got into the Epidemic Prevention Station! Heard the Epidemic Prevention Station salary is issued by the commune, he’s a cadre now, all thanks to dad’s light.”
Lin Zhao: What kind of cadre is this?
“Can’t say it that way, Tie Niu’s Father took the exam, good scores to get in.”
If the exam was a mess, even with Brigade Leader’s efforts, couldn’t get in.
Zhao Liuniang said: “I heard Tie Niu’s Father secretly studied long ago, over a month in advance, anyone could score well.”
She was quite unconvinced.
She felt her man was more suited for that job.
Lin Zhao smiled, “Everyone has selfish thoughts.”
Seeking better days for one’s son wasn’t excessive.
She casually gave Second Sister-in-law some pumpkin seeds, tone leisurely, “Second Brother following dad, bright future ahead.”
Joy appeared on Zhao Liuniang’s face.
“Third Sister-in-law, do you know something?” Her eyes lit up.
Lin Zhao shook her head, “I don’t know.”
Reasonable guess only.
Whole commune cultivating mushrooms, one technician like Gu Fu how enough, at least three or five needed.
Once Elder Brother and Second Brother learned, they’d have their positions.
Zhao Liuniang sighed, “Why everyone likes saying half.”
Lin Zhao smiled, “Second Sister-in-law have Second Brother study the Mushroom Cultivation Guide well, won’t go wrong later.”
“Studying it.” Man ambitious, Zhao Liuniang’s days had hope, smile more relaxed than before, “He and Elder Brother copying the Mushroom Cultivation Guide you gave dad, copying while learning, I’ve never seen……him so persistent about something.”
“Second Brother wants to bring you all good days.” Lin Zhao said.
Zhao Liuniang laughed heartily.
Third Sister-in-law speaks so nicely.
After gossiping, she left satisfied.
Just at her home door, saw the person she never wanted to see in this lifetime.
