Zhao Tielin deeply missed the days of working for collective wages, the time when his family lived the most comfortably.
He had been like an emperor of the entire village, only needing to record work points and scold lazy members. The good things allocated from above were only given to them after he had chosen the best, and everyone fawned over him. Who dared to disobey him, he could ruin them.
Alas, those good days were gone forever.
It was also because he had poor popular support when he was village head that Zhao Tiegang was reluctantly elected, something Zhao Tielin resented the most.
"It's not the same as before with household-based responsibility. Don't say such things. If the villagers hear it, it won't be good for us."
Zhao Tiegang 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.
If you want to make it yourself and sell it, that's fine, but you can't steal."
Zhao Tielin was displeased. "Are we just going to watch that kid Xie Sui eat alone?"
Zhao Tiegang said helplessly, "What do you mean eating alone? He earned that money through his own abilities, big brother. We can't be unreasonable."
"Hmph, I'll make that kid pay."
Zhao Tielin stomped off angrily. The village head's wife came out of the room and said, "Your brother has always been unreasonable. Don't do anything drastic, or it will be hard to clean up."
"What can I do? He's my own brother, I can't control him."
"That kid Xie Sui is full of tricks. If he wants to cause trouble, who knows who will suffer."
The village head's wife snorted, she really disliked her husband's elder brother. He was overbearing and arrogant, and always acted like a benefactor commanding her husband to do things. She wondered, if he hadn't offended so many people back then, would the position of village head have fallen to her husband?
Xie Sui, unaware that his business was being eyed, woke up early the next day. He prepared breakfast, and just as Lin Wanwan and the children got up, fragrant steamed eggs were already on the table.
"Quickly eat breakfast, we're going to sell canned goods later."
Doudou and Dingding rubbed their sleepy eyes and instantly woke up. "No, we have to rent tin frogs. We can't go sell canned goods with Mommy and Daddy."
"Alright, we'll split up. We'll try to come back by noon. If we're late, you can have lunch at Grandma Wang's next door. Dad will tell Grandma Wang."
"Okay, Mommy and Daddy, come back early."
The children in the village ran all over the place. They were all from the same village, so there wouldn't be any accidents. Lin Wanwan confidently followed Xie Sui out to sell canned goods.
"Are we going to the town?"
"No, we're going to the next village."
The next village was called Wuli Zhuang, only about three li away. The two villages often intermarried, and they could be related in roundabout ways. Xie Sui's good friends were from this village.
"Grain for canned goods! Fifteen jin of corn for one bottle of canned goods. If you're late, there won't be any!"
Xie Sui shouted under the big locust tree at the village entrance. In a short while, half the village came, drawn by the golden canned goods. The children's mouths watered with desire.
"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 fifty cents a bottle. One jin of corn is thirteen cents. Fifteen jin, calculate it for yourself. It's only one yuan and ninety-five cents, and I'll deliver it to your doorstep. Which is more cost-effective?"
"Make it cheaper."
"Alright, it's the first sale. If you buy two bottles, it'll be two jin less corn, twenty-eight jin. The canned bottle itself is worth a few cents!"
After the first sale, things went more smoothly. Every household had some surplus grain. As long as Xie Sui didn't act like before, indulging in eating and drinking and not doing proper work, their lives would be manageable.
The past two years had been favorable for weather, and the land had been distributed to households. There was no pressure from housing, education, and other aspects like in later generations, so it could be considered a relatively happy time.
People's troubles always stem from desire. If they hadn't seen better things and everyone lived the same way, there would be no comparison and therefore no harm.
"Xie Sui, you've turned traitor! You're going into business, what about us, your brothers? You can't play like this!"
After selling all the canned goods and loading the grain onto the cart, Xie Sui's friends gathered around, their faces full of jealousy.
Xie Sui was lucky to have married a beautiful educated youth and have twin sons. Before, they were all idle and no one looked down on anyone else. Now he could suddenly make money, and his wife and children were happy and prosperous, while they were still messing around in the same place. How could they feel comfortable?
Lin Wanwan's expression turned unpleasant. "What do you want?"
"Oh, Xie Sui, your wife is no good. Men are talking, what is a woman doing here? You need to teach her a lesson and let her know who is the head of the household!"
"Exactly, are educated youths superior? He doesn't even respect you."
"A wife needs to be beaten three meals a day to be obedient. Let's go drinking later, my treat. This disobedient wife should just go wherever it's cool!"
Lin Wanwan felt a chill in her heart. Every time they incited him like this, Xie Sui would lose his mind and do all sorts of outrageous things to show off his meager dignity.
Was he going to repeat the same mistakes this time? After just a few days of good life, would they return to their original state?
However, Lin Wanwan was no longer afraid. She had learned to make canned goods and had a way to earn money. At worst, she could make them herself and sell them without Xie Sui's help.
A smile played on Xie Sui's lips, but his eyes were filled with coldness. In his previous life, when he was young, he would get hot-headed when instigated and do many outrageous things, which ultimately led to the tragic death of his wife and children.
Although Xie Sui deserved it, these disreputable friends were not good people either.
"What the brothers say is right, but let's send the grain home first. How can I let you treat me? I'll treat! Come, help me, lend a hand."
The few young men exchanged glances. Xie Sui pointed at the cart. Free labor had arrived, and it would be a waste not to use it.
"Are we brothers? Are you not even going to help with this little bit of work?"
They had no retort and could only step forward to push the cart. Xie Sui and Lin Wanwan followed slowly behind.
When no one was paying attention, he secretly touched Lin Wanwan's hand and gave her a playful look. Lin Wanwan's cold heart warmed again.
Xie Sui was truly different. Had she finally made it through?
When they reached the village entrance, they saw Doudou and Dingding playing in the drying field. They didn't mind the heat, with more than ten children surrounding them. The oldest were seven or eight years old, and the youngest were even younger than them. Opposite them was Zhao Xiaoshan. He was seven years old, well-fed and strong, a head taller than Doudou and Dingding.
"Play with me, I have a tin frog now too."
Zhao Xiaoshan finally had his own tin frog and wanted to win back his former subordinates, looking proudly at Doudou and Dingding.
Lin Wanwan and Xie Sui exchanged glances, both tacitly remaining silent, wanting to see how the two children would handle it.