On the third day, Zeng Shengchun brought back two carts of rotten watermelons to demand compensation from Li Zhengguo.
"Pay me money, pay for my loss of reputation."
The trainees were outraged, "Why? Didn't you say you wouldn't be responsible once we left the village?"
Zeng Shengchun had the drivers bring down some rotten watermelons.
"Here, take a bite and taste why."
The trainees took a bite and immediately spat it out, the melons were rotten.
Zeng Shengchun smiled, "It's not much, I'll only charge the principal amount of 4,000 yuan, plus the cost of these two carts, 1,000 yuan."
"I won't weigh it for you by the basket. I won't lose sight of the bigger picture for the small."
The trainees looked ashamed, "We'll pay."
"Pay what?"
Li Zhengguo walked over, "Are you charging for the transportation fee twice?"
The trainees were speechless.
It was over. Village Chief Li had warned them about potential disputes, but their guilt had led them into a trap.
Li Zhengguo nimbly climbed onto the truck and rummaged through the rotten watermelons.
"Boss Zeng, some of these watermelons look off?"
Zeng Shengchun smirked, "How are they off?"
Li Zhengguo picked up half a rotten watermelon, "When a whole watermelon is sun-scorched, it's juicy. When it's opened, the juice flows out, and the pulp reduces. But this rotten watermelon's pulp hasn't reduced much."
"Heh heh."
Zeng Shengchun chuckled, "Didn't you say you wanted to teach them a lesson? If I don't make a big deal out of it, how will they learn? By suffering."
"If they can't compare to their 800 jin later, and they still want to weigh it slowly, I don't have the time."
Li Zhengguo shot Zeng Shengchun a sideways glance, "You sold me out, and you feel good about it?"
Zeng Shengchun clutched his chest, "You climbing onto the truck to inspect is selling me out. You sold me out to teach your apprentices, and I don't feel good about it. If I don't feel good, no one should."
"Falling out?"
"Yes!"
"Then don't come to pull any more."
"This is you breaking the agreement first, pay up."
"I said don't come to pull any more, meaning you shouldn't come. The drivers are still coming, aren't they? How is that breaking the agreement? I think you want to break the agreement first."
"You're unreasonable."
"You're being difficult."
Li Zhengguo jumped off the truck, "Dealing with these two carts of rotten watermelons wastes our time and the strength of our villagers."
"20 yuan per person, I'll call ten people to do it for you, otherwise, clean it up yourself slowly."
"Li Zhengguo!"
Zeng Shengchun was angry, "I'm helping you."
Li Zhengguo replied nonchalantly, "Thanks, but I don't need this kind of help."
Zeng Shengchun waved his hand, "By doing this, you've taught them several lessons. You should thank me."
"Thick-skinned."
"How else would you get by?"
The trainees were speechless.
They regretted not heeding Assistant Zhang's warning. In their excitement, they had happily jumped into Village Chief Li's trap.
They silently climbed onto the truck and began moving the rotten watermelons.
Zhang Shitai directed the pushing of the carts, moving them to the composting pits behind the village.
Zeng Shengchun started complaining again, "Composting? Don't I have to pay to buy it?"
Li Zhengguo kicked him, "Don't be greedy. If you dumped this in the provincial city, you'd be fined to death. I've never seen a spendthrift like you."
Zeng Shengchun dodged his foot, "Why did you kick me? Your shoes are covered in watermelon juice."
Li Zhengguo extended his hand, "Then should I grab you?"
Dodging a pair of smelly, red claws, Zeng Shengchun urged the villagers, "The sun is out, hurry up and pick the watermelons, it's by estimate."
Looking at the trainees covered in red juice on the truck, the villagers went into the shed to pick watermelons.
If they continued to watch, Village Chief Li would hold a grudge.
...
Kushan became busier and busier.
The trainees no longer dared to haggle and earnestly participated in the work.
It was summer vacation, and Li's mother returned with her grandson and granddaughter.
Seeing the changes in the village, she almost thought she had gone to the wrong place.
She almost had gone to the wrong place, but Li Weili quickly grabbed her grandmother's hand as it reached out to push open the courtyard gate.
"Grandma, this doesn't seem to be our house. The lock on the gate is wrong. The lock on the bamboo door of the small Western-style building opposite is our house's lock."
Li's mother turned and saw her younger daughter-in-law waving from the second floor.
Li Weili waved at the second floor and pushed open the bamboo door, entering the living room on the first floor, "Mom."
Tian Jing quickly descended the stairs, "Hey, where are your two brothers and your younger brother?"
"They went to see Grandpa. At the bridgehead, they were told by the security guards about recent events, so they went to comfort Grandpa. Mom, are you alright?"
"What could happen to me? Don't worry. You'll also be questioned, so be careful with your words. Your brother's identity must absolutely not be revealed."
"Got it. Poor brother."
Li's mother placed her belongings on the wooden sofa in the living room, "Moving in so suddenly, aren't you having a housewarming party?"
Tian Jing shook her head, "The villagers are all too busy. If someone were to initiate a housewarming party, even if we ate every day, wouldn't it take two months?"
Li's mother nodded, "That's true. If no one holds one, then no one else will. Where will I sleep?"
Tian Jing pointed to the east, "The north room."
Since the front of this row of houses faced north, the north room was considered the master bedroom.
First floor: The center was the living room and dining room. The east side was divided into two bedrooms in the front and back. The west side contained the kitchen, utility room, washroom, and a toilet hidden under the stairs.
Second floor: The east side was the same as the first floor, and the west side had two bedrooms. The living room was smaller than on the first floor, occupying half the space by the stairs, while the other half was a large study.
The rooms were north-south oriented, with windows in each room, providing excellent natural light.
Third floor: Only half a floor, on the side of the stairs, was a suite.
A two-meter wide walkway was left at the stairs, leading to the side facing the village road.
This half was a large balcony, half of which was covered and half was open.
The uncovered part was for drying bedding and grains.
The covered part had tables, chairs, and lazy chairs, a place to enjoy the summer.
Both east-side rooms on the first floor had kang beds, making the first floor more suitable for winter living.
Li's mother moved her belongings in, and the room was arranged exactly as her original room had been.
Li Weili hugged her bag, "Mom, where will I sleep?"
"The east secondary bedroom on the second floor, which is the southeast room."
"No, I want to live on the side facing the road."
"Silly, it's noisy by the road, and the south side faces the sun."
"What about Grandma's room?"
"There's no choice, the door faces north, and the north room is at the front, so it's the master."
"Then I'll choose myself."
After much deliberation, Li Weili finally decided to stay in the southeast room.
This room was not only decorated the most beautifully, but it also had a small en-suite bathroom.
Standing on the balcony, she saw the plastic bent pipe that emerged from the corner of the wall and ran down to the first floor, realizing it was a drainage pipe that her father had personally installed.
The other three rooms had to share the toilet hidden under the stairs.
She was the happiest girl in the world.
Seeing her daughter come downstairs, Tian Jing asked, "Which room did you choose?"
"Of course, I chose the best room my parents prepared for me."
Tian Jing tapped her daughter's nose, "It's good that you know. The houses opposite ours and your uncle's are occupied by retired soldiers who were injured."
"Be polite and call them uncle when you see them, and don't make a fuss."
"Got it. I'm going to find my eldest brother and the others."
"Mmm, go ahead, and tell A Feng that we're all coming over for dinner."
"Okay."
Li Weihao and his two brothers had already been hinted at by Grandpa Xiao.
Therefore, as soon as Li Weili spoke, her three brothers covered her mouth.
"Shh, shh, walls have ears. We know what we're doing."
Li Weili raised her foot to kick, and Li Weihao quickly let go and dodged, "Violent girl."
Li Weili was annoyed, "I wish you find a wife even more violent than me in the future."
Li Weihao was indifferent, "Then you'll be the most miserable. Sisters-in-law and sisters-in-law can never get along."
"Hmph! I'll tell Auntie."
"She wouldn't dare. She's a reflection of your future."
"Li Weihao, you're implying that Mom and Auntie are violent, you're in trouble."
"You're twisting things."
Grandpa Xiao looked at his quarreling great-grandchildren and asked with a smile, "Lili, did your mom tell you anything?"
Li Weili jumped up and ran out, "Oh no, I forgot. Sister A Feng, my mom said we're coming over for dinner."