Zhao Tielin deeply missed the era of communal farming, the time when his family was most prosperous. He had been the village emperor, only needing to record work points and discipline lazy members. The good things allocated from above were only given to them after everyone else had their share, and he was fawned over by everyone, no one daring to disobey him lest he be ruined.
Alas, those good days were gone forever. It was also because he was unpopular when he was village head that Zhao Tiegang was reluctantly elected, a fact Zhao Tielin resented the most.
"It's not like before with household contract responsibility system, you can't say such things. If the villagers hear it, it won't be good for us." Zhao Tiegang obviously knew what he was thinking and continued, "What you're talking about probably won't work. Wouldn't that be stealing someone else's technology? That's illegal. You want to do it and sell it, that's fine, but you can't steal it."
Zhao Tielin was displeased, "Are we just going to watch that Xie Sui kid hog it all?"
Zhao Tiegang said helplessly, "What do you mean hogging it all? He earned the money with his own ability, elder brother. We can't be unreasonable."
"Hmph, I'll make that kid regret it."
Zhao Tielin left in a huff. The village head's wife came out of the room and said, "Your elder brother has always been unreasonable. Don't do anything rash, or it will be difficult to clean up the mess later."
"What can I do? He's my own brother, I can't control him."
"That Xie Sui kid is full of tricks. If he decides to play dirty, you never know who will end up losing."
The village head's wife snorted coldly, deeply disliking her elder brother-in-law. He was overbearing and arrogant, and always acted like a benefactor, ordering her husband around. She wondered if, without him offending so many people in the past, her husband would even have had the chance to become village head.
Xie Sui was unaware that his business was being coveted. The next morning, after he had prepared breakfast, Lin Wanwan and the children were just waking up. The fragrant steamed egg custard was already on the table.
"Hurry up and eat breakfast, we're going to sell canned goods later."
Dou Dou and Ding Ding rubbed their sleepy eyes and instantly woke up, "No, we have to go rent a tin frog. We can't go sell canned goods with Mom and Dad."
"Alright then, we'll split up. We'll try to be back by noon. If we're late, you two go have lunch at Grandma Wang's next door. Dad will tell Grandma Wang."
"Okay, Mom and Dad, come back early."
The children in the village ran around freely. They were all from the same village, so there wouldn't be any accidents. Lin Wanwan felt at ease as she followed Xie Sui out to sell canned goods.
"Are we going to the town?"
"No, to the next village."
The next village was called Wuli Zhuang, and it was only three li away. The two villages often had intermarriages, so they were distantly related in many ways. Xie Sui's few rascal friends were from this village.
"Grain for canned goods! Fifteen jin of corn for one bottle of canned goods. There won't be any left if you come late!"
Xie Sui shouted under the big locust tree at the village entrance, soon attracting more than half the village. The golden cans made the children's mouths water.
"Fifteen jin of corn? Too expensive, make it cheaper."
"Auntie, don't say that. The supply and marketing cooperative sells them for two yuan and five jiao a bottle. Corn is thirteen fen a jin. Fifteen jin, do the math. It's only one yuan and ninety-five fen, and I'll even deliver it to your doorstep. Which is more cost-effective?"
"Make it cheaper."
"Alright, since you're the first customer, two bottles will be two jin less corn, twenty-eight jin. The bottle itself is worth a few fen!"
After selling the first order, everything became smoother. Every household had some surplus grain. As long as Xie Sui wasn't indulging in his old habits of eating, drinking, and goofing off, they could get by.
The past two years had been favorable in terms of weather, and the household contract responsibility system had been implemented. There were no pressures from housing or education like in later generations, so it could be considered a relatively happy time.
People's troubles always stemmed from their desires. If they hadn't seen better things, and everyone lived the same way, there would be no comparison, and thus no harm.
"Xie Sui, you've betrayed us! You're going into business, what about us brothers? You can't do this!"
The canned goods were sold out, and the grain filled the cart. Xie Sui's rascal friends gathered around, their faces filled with envy. Xie Sui was lucky; he married a beautiful educated youth and had twin sons. In the past, they were all idle, and no one looked down on anyone else. Now that he could suddenly make money, and his wife and children were happy and fulfilled, while they were still stuck in the same place, how could they feel comfortable?
Lin Wanwan's expression turned grim, "What do you want?"
"Oh, Xie Sui, your wife is no good. When a man is speaking, what's a woman doing here? You need to teach her a good lesson and let her know who's the head of the household!"
"Exactly! Are educated youths superior? He doesn't take you seriously."
"A wife needs to be beaten three times a day to be obedient. Let's go for drinks later, my treat. This disobedient wife should go wherever it's cool!"
Lin Wanwan's heart grew cold. Every time they egged him on like this, Xie Sui would lose his head, and in order to show off his meager pride, he would do all sorts of reckless things. Was he going to repeat his mistakes this time? Were they going to return to their original state after just a few days of good fortune?
However, Lin Wanwan was no longer afraid. Having learned how to make canned goods and found a way to make money, she could always go and sell them herself, without Xie Sui's help.
Xie Sui's lips curved into a smile, but his eyes were filled with coldness. In his previous life, he was young and easily incited, losing his head and doing many foolish things, which ultimately led to the tragic deaths of his wife and children. Although Xie Sui deserved it, these rascals were not good people either.
"My brothers are right. But we'll send the grain home first. How can we let you treat us? I'll treat! Come on, lend a hand, give us some help."
The few young men exchanged glances. Xie Sui gestured to the cart. Free labor was here, and it would be foolish not to use it.
"Are you brothers or not? You won't even help with this little thing?"
They had no grounds to refuse, so they had to step forward and push the cart. Xie Sui followed Lin Wanwan, walking slowly behind. When no one was looking, he secretly touched Lin Wanwan's hand, giving her a mischievous look. Lin Wanwan's cold heart warmed up again.
Xie Sui had truly changed. Had she finally endured enough?
When they reached the village entrance, they saw Dou Dou and Ding Ding playing on the drying ground. They didn't seem to mind the heat, surrounded by more than ten children, the oldest around seven or eight, and the youngest a year younger than them. Opposite them was Zhao Xiaoshan. He was seven years old, well-fed and strong, a head taller than Dou Dou and Ding Ding.
"Play with me! I have a tin frog too."
Zhao Xiaoshan finally had his own tin frog and wanted to win back his former followers, looking proudly at Dou Dou and Ding Ding.
Lin Wanwan and Xie Sui exchanged a look, both tacitly remaining silent, wanting to see how the two children would handle it.