Cicada shells, also known as cicada molts, are a traditional Chinese medicine. The villagers all know this, but back then, it wasn't as developed as it is now, with people coming to collect them. If you found some, there was nowhere to sell them, so who would waste their effort?
In his previous life, Xie Sui was involved in the trading of Chinese medicinal materials. His large pharmaceutical factories were spread across the country, a profitable industry under his management.
Currently, he's busy with the canned goods business, so it's not the right time for the medicinal materials business. It would be better to let his son gain some experience first.
It wasn't yet high summer, not the season for cicadas to molt in large numbers, but there were still a few. It was perfect for the children to collect them for a bit of money.
Two cents each was already a high price; adults would be tempted to collect them if they knew.
Xie Sui hadn't inquired about the current market prices. In his previous life, they had risen to over a thousand yuan per jin. It shouldn't be too cheap.
After lunch, Xie Sui asked Lin Wanwan and the children to take a nap. He went to the Chen family, the friend of the shirt seller, named Zhang Wenfeng. His family owned a mule, and Xie Sui wanted to borrow it.
"Wenfeng, are you home?"
Xie Sui peeked in and saw Zhang Wenfeng squatting in a corner, fiddling with something in his hands, his face looking like he was constipated.
Upon seeing Xie Sui, he quickly hid it behind his back. "What are you here for?"
"What are you hiding? Don't tell me it's your wife's underwear?"
"How did you know?"
Zhang Wenfeng's dark face flushed, mortified.
"No way? It really is? I was just saying."
Xie Sui couldn't help but want to laugh. He had just been joking, never expecting to be right. He felt like a jinx.
"It's fine to wash them. It's only right for a man to wash his wife's underwear; it's a matter of pride."
Xie Sui dared not joke anymore, as Zhang Wenfeng was getting angry. This was about the mule cart, so he had to appease him.
"Really? Do you wash them for your wife too?"
Zhang Wenfeng's expression improved slightly. He didn't want to wash them; it was embarrassing. But his wife had said if he didn't wash them, he wouldn't be allowed on the kang. They were newlyweds, still very affectionate, and not being allowed on the kang was unbearable.
So, he had to wait until the family was asleep to wash them secretly.
If everyone was embarrassed, it wasn't so embarrassing anymore. They were comrades.
Xie Sui thought to himself, I don't have such good treatment; I can't even touch the edge of her underwear.
He couldn't back down. Proudly, he said, "Of course. Let me tell you something."
"No, you go away. My dad says you're too cunning, that people count money for you even after you've cheated them. He told me not to play with you."
Xie Sui: "..."
What kind of talk was that? Was he that capable?
"Don't be like that. I treat you like my own brother. I wouldn't cheat you."
"My dad says you specifically cheat your brothers."
Damn it, you're killing the conversation.
"You're wronging me. When have I ever cheated you? Tell me honestly."
Zhang Wenfeng complained, "It's that shirt you sold me. I look terrible in it. Everyone says I look like a black bear impersonating a human. It was a waste of five yuan."
"How about you take it back, and I'll help you with your matter?"
Zhang Wenfeng's eyes darted around; he was still trying to scheme against Xie Sui.
Xie Sui found it amusing. With his limited intelligence, it was hard for him to come up with such a plan. He put an arm around his shoulder and said, "Brother, you just don't understand, do you?
Who said that shirt was for you to wear? Won't you give it to your sister-in-law?"
"It's too big; my wife can't wear it. Are you tricking me again?"
Xie Sui whispered conspiratorially, "Look at you, you're so ignorant. You don't have her wear it out. When you two are intimate at night, imagine how she'd look wearing it. The collar undone, half-covered, you know?"
In his past life, "uniform seduction" was already commonplace, but here and now, it was a novelty.
Zhang Wenfeng imagined the scene and, with a weak sniffle, felt hot all over even in broad daylight. He grinned foolishly. "Of course. What did you need me for?"
"To borrow your mule cart."
"No way," Zhang Wenfeng shook his head like a rattle drum. "That mule is more important to me than I am. My dad would beat me to death if he knew.
Let me tell you, if I die, my dad might not cry, but if my mule dies, my dad will cry his eyes out."
Xie Sui: "..."
What a simpleton. Did he have to say that about himself?
Large draft animals were extremely important assets to a family. It took years of savings to afford one, comparable to a private car. Without a deep bond, one wouldn't lend it out.
"I'll rent it. I'll pay. You can come with me and supervise. Plus, you can sell it to me. Two yuan for one trip, how about that?"
"I need to discuss this with Dad."
Lending it out was impossible; his father would beat him to death. But renting it was different. Two yuan was not a small amount.
After chatting for a while, their relationship improved. Zhang Wenfeng took out the underwear again to wash. Xie Sui glanced at it. Damn, it was bright red.
It was an eyesore. Xie Sui regretted his foolishness for looking again.
Judging by the size, it was a large one, making it even harder to look at.
"It's settled then. I'm leaving. Probably the day after tomorrow. It'll take a day. Two yuan, and I'll provide two meals for you and the mule."
"Got it."
Zhang Wenfeng only came to his senses after Xie Sui had walked away. "Damn, he's treating me like a mule!"
When Xie Sui returned home, Lin Wanwan was already up, busy making canned goods. With a way to make money, she wanted to seize every opportunity.
Many people weren't lazy; they lacked opportunities to earn money. They had strength but nowhere to apply it, or they exerted great effort for little return, with their input and output not matching.
"Wife, you should rest for a bit. I'll do this work."
"No need, I'm not tired."
Watching Lin Wanwan squatting and washing peaches, her rounded buttocks, Xie Sui felt the temperature in the air rise. He swallowed and looked away. Apart from that one accidental encounter, he didn't seem to have properly "played" with his wife.
He couldn't help but slap himself. Why wasn't he indulging in such a beautiful woman?
"What are you doing acting crazy again!"
Lin Wanwan was startled by him, hitting himself for no reason.
"Mosquito, I'll help."
When men and women work together, it's not tiring. The remaining peaches were all processed, and more than fifty bottles were neatly packed. They would go to the next village early tomorrow to trade for grain.
"We're running low on money. Tomorrow we need to buy white sugar. If people bring peaches, we'll have to pay them. And that grain..."
"Leave it to me to figure out. We can manage for another two days. It's fine.
Wife, you stay home tomorrow. I'll go alone to trade for the canned goods. Someone needs to stay home to receive peaches and make canned goods. This way, the efficiency will be higher."
"Okay, that's what I was thinking too."
Discussing and making plans together, working hard as a team, this was the life Lin Wanwan wanted most.
"Mom, I need to pee."
"Mom, I need to poop!"
The two little ones slept until mid-afternoon and then woke up looking for their mother.
"Come on, you're all men. You should go find Dad. Why look for Mom? Dad will go with you to poop."
Xie Sui eagerly volunteered to take care of the little ones. After speaking, he felt something was wrong. Lin Wanwan smiled. Dad pooping?