Ah Guang was sent to see the guests out, and Tian Jing went to the main room to see her grandfather.
Seeing her grandfather in a daze, Tian Jing couldn't help but sigh, "Grandpa, Xiao Wei is going to be locked up. It's good that she's locked up, so she can learn to be down-to-earth. She's over fifty years old."
"It's all my fault. I didn't teach her well."
Grandpa Xiao looked haggard. "I'm also worried about A Yuan."
Tian Jing sat opposite Grandpa Xiao and said, "Uncle Xiao will be fine. He's being protected as a witness. Once Xiao Xueqi and the others' problems are thoroughly investigated, he can come back."
Grandpa Xiao looked directly at Tian Jing. "Tiantian, tell me, what did the Xiao family do wrong?"
"I don't know."
Tian Jing shook her head. "I only know that Zheng Ge told Director Wan that the Xiao family had dealings with Chen Yao Shi. Chen Yao Shi smuggled weapons."
Smuggled weapons?
Grandpa Xiao's eyes widened. "No wonder, no wonder Xueqi was so arrogant this time. He made a lot of money?"
Grandpa also believed it implicitly. It seemed the Xiao family was caught.
Good, it was enough to deal with the Xiao family by using their own strength against them.
As for the Chen family, they were digging their own graves.
The Chen and Xiao families would no longer be her heart's burden.
"Grandpa, don't worry about these things. Kushan is developing so well, aren't you looking forward to it?"
"New comrades have come and they all praise the villagers for their eloquence. Aren't you proud? Why bother thinking about those useless people?"
Grandpa Xiao perked up. "Yes, yes, I should let it go."
Restoring one's mood takes time. Tian Jing didn't force it.
"Sister-in-law Niu and the others are coming for dinner later. I've asked A Feng to prepare. You go wash your face, and I'll go see if A Feng needs any help."
"Okay, okay."
When Tian Jing wanted to help, A Feng refused, saying she could manage by herself.
"I'll pick the vegetables."
Tian Jing pulled over the vegetable basket. "I told the cook at the Jia Zi courtyard that you learned your family's culinary skills, so you're not allowed to marry outside, to prevent your culinary skills from being passed on."
"She asked me to apologize to you on her behalf. From now on, don't bother with these people. Greed is in people's hearts." wap.kanshuwu.net
"Thank you, Auntie Li."
A Feng was very grateful. Tian Jing's words served two purposes: one excuse to refuse others asking for recipes, and another reason for her not to marry.
Although the reason she wasn't married was indeed because of her family, it wasn't because of her culinary skills.
Tian Jing's hand paused as she picked vegetables. "You should still call me Team Leader Tian. You calling me Auntie Li sounds strange."
"Alright, Team Leader Tian."
...
When Sister-in-law Niu and the others arrived at the courtyard, they didn't come empty-handed, bringing vegetables, dried meat, and even live chickens.
With their laughter and chatter, the quiet courtyard immediately became lively.
Grandpa Xiao's mood involuntarily improved.
When the group wanted to help in the kitchen, A Feng still refused, telling them to rest as they had been tired for many days.
Sister-in-law Niu and the others didn't cause trouble. They went to the main hall to chat with Grandpa Xiao, carefully avoiding mentioning Xiao Wei.
Their rambling conversations lifted Grandpa Xiao's spirits.
They talked about the electricity that would be connected that evening.
As they talked, they brought up the threats Li Zhengguo made to the villagers.
"Village Chief Li is getting better and better at controlling people. He used to control us with money, and now he controls us with reputation."
"Yes, yes. Before, we weren't afraid of being infamous because we had no money. Now that we have money, we are afraid of being infamous, especially since Village Chief Li plans to give us a bad reputation."
Sister-in-law Niu laughed. "Haha, you don't understand, do you? Village Chief Li knows this psychology, so he can grasp your weaknesses."
The team members were displeased with Sister-in-law Niu's choice of words.
"What you're talking about is snakes. Grasping the seven-inch mark is for venomous snakes."
Sister-in-law Niu retorted, "Aren't you all sharp-tongued? You were talking about Village Chief Li in front of Tian Jing, and got carried away."
A team member replied, "Team Leader Tian isn't as petty as you. What's wrong with us talking about Village Chief Li? We're praising him."
Sister-in-law Niu continued, "Your kind of praise is indeed quite sharp-tongued."
The team member replied again.
They bantered back and forth.
Grandpa Xiao watched them bicker. Since these villagers had found a goal to strive for, their spirit had completely changed.
"What are you talking about? So lively?"
One sentence turned the lively room into silence.
"No need to ask, you must be talking bad about me."
Li Zhengguo walked into the main hall and sat next to Tian Jing. "Wife, aren't you going to help me?"
Tian Jing shook her head. "It's fine, a few words won't hurt. The villagers are indeed tired from your urging."
"Tired?"
Li Zhengguo raised his eyebrows. "Next year will be Zeng Shengchun's last time collecting watermelons."
"I also don't plan to sell them wholesale anymore. I'll only manage the 500 greenhouses in the village. You can sell your own watermelons and vegetables yourselves."
"Ah?"
"Ah?"
The team members wailed.
"How could this be? Boss Zeng didn't make less profit! Why isn't he collecting them?"
Li Zhengguo shook his head. "I don't know the specific reason. He only said it was due to family matters. I can't force others."
"What do we do? What do we do?"
The team members lost their appetite for food and wanted to go home to discuss.
Tian Jing gave her husband a reproachful glance. "Why did you have to say this in advance? You ruined my first time hosting guests."
Li Zhengguo quickly raised his hands in surrender and asked the team members to stay for dinner.
"What good idea can you come up with by going home to discuss? Eat, eat. After eating, take your watermelons to bother Director Wan Zhongshan. He's from the capital, so he must have connections."
Li Zhengguo's words reassured the team members.
"Yes, yes, Director Wan is from the capital. Our watermelons sell well in the provincial capital, and they should sell even better in the capital. We'll give them a one-yuan discount on travel expenses. If they use train cars to transport them, it should be more economical than cars."
Li Zhengguo smacked his forehead in annoyance. How could he not teach these villagers to be smarter?
"Do you talk about business like this? Anyone can tell you're desperate to unload your goods."
Sister-in-law Niu asked, "Then how should we negotiate?"
"Quote the price from Boss Zeng. After he tastes the watermelon, let him make an offer."
"If he lowers the price, you raise yours. It should be at least one cent higher than Boss Zeng's price, because the cost of living in the capital is higher."
"If he asks you to continue selling to Boss Zeng, don't beg him, and definitely don't mention that Boss Zeng is planning to withdraw."
"Just say that Boss Zeng is not increasing the price, and you are not satisfied, so you want to find a bigger boss to buy them. When he sees Boss Zeng's actions this year, he will make his own decision."
"Ah?"
Sister-in-law Niu and the others frowned. "Is negotiating business so difficult? You can't tell the truth and have to fight a long war. It's too tiring."
Li Zhengguo nodded. "Do you think only farming is hard? Business owners also need to have stamina."
"Whoever can't hold on first will earn less or lose money. Their exhaustion is mental, like mine."
The team members quickly apologized to Li Zhengguo.
"Village Chief Li, we were just joking. We didn't disrespect you. We see all your hard work and contributions."
"If they can't see it, they should understand it from their own wallets. If they don't understand, they are heartless."
Li Zhengguo waved his hand. "I just said it casually. I don't forbid you from talking about me behind my back, as long as you don't curse me. Talk if you want, it won't cost me anything. Right? Wife."
Tian Jing rolled her eyes at him. He was a man who got the benefits and acted like a victim.