The Wei Family sat together on the kang, with the three older ones playing with the two younger ones. Shi Xian had quite a temper; if you teased him for too long, he would cry out loudly.
Tingting’s temper was much better; no matter how she was teased, she never got upset.
"Mom, the little sister is really well-behaved," Shi Jing remarked.
He had just made his little brother cry and was quite startled by the loud wailing.
The two kids were both hungry, so Shang Zhenkun took the three of them back to listen to the storytelling.
Whenever there were historical inaccuracies, he would correct them for the children.
Wei Kaiyun took care of his son, and Jiang Xinyu took care of her daughter. After feeding them, Jiang Xinyu also lay down—her back ached from sitting all day.
"My dear, I’m going to find Li Yungui to talk about the pesticide factory."
"Go ahead, dress warmly."
"Okay, don’t worry, I can take care of myself." Wei Kaiyun said this but felt happy inside that his wife cared for him.
After nine o’clock, the rain had reduced significantly outside. Wei Kaiyun grabbed an umbrella, put on his rain boots, and went to Li Yungui’s house.
"Xiao Wei? Hurry, co in."
Chaoyang heard Wei Kaiyun coming and quickly ran out, "Master Wei."
"Hmm, I’m here to talk to your dad about sothing; you join us and listen in too."
Li Family father and son were very happy; it was an opportunity for Chaoyang to learn.
The three of them sat on the kang, and Qu Xiaoli brought over fried peanuts, freshly made for Li Yungui to go with his drink.
"Village Chief Li, regarding the pesticide factory I ntioned last ti, you can apply to the higher-ups now."
"Great, every ti I think of what you said, I get so excited I can’t sleep."
"Actually, this is not a good industry; it’s really toxic. After the autumn harvest, I will go directly to other places to contact for chemical materials and rubber gloves, which are better handled by our people because, if poisoned, it’s hard to say anything."
"Xiao Wei, compared to living, getting poisoned is sothing people are willing to endure, as there’s no death involved."
Wei Kaiyun shook his head, "Maybe for a while, everyone will think it’s fine, but after a long ti, when life improves, feelings will change. So rubber gloves are a must."
"Hmm, Xiao Wei thinks long-term, comprehensively."
"Also, about the collective setup of a factory, the higher-ups might not agree. Funding is substantial, Village Chief Li, you should request support from the higher-ups and let them help with bank loans and repaynt over ti."
Li Yungui listened, frowning slightly. Everything was negotiable, except for borrowing money—he was reluctant. Common people’s hearts naturally resist getting into debt.
But it’s indeed impossible to gather that money. There’s still debt from two tractors, and no funds will co from here.
Wei Kaiyun was right; if they want to proceed, support from higher-ups in terms of money is necessary.
Wei Kaiyun didn’t continue talking but waited for Li Yungui to sort out his thoughts.
"Master Wei, can I follow you and go outside to have a look?"
"Sure, you and Xiang Dong can co along."
Chaoyang was delighted. It was such a rare opportunity to go out and see the world by train.
"Xiao Wei, you think with the borrowed money, we can repay it?"
"What does Village Chief Li think about the herbicide?"
"It’s great. This year, almost all the villagers are praising it; it’s much more efficient than before, saving a lot of effort in weeding."
"Then what worries you?"
Li Yungui gritted his teeth, "Alright, but let consult my big brother, and hear his opinion, to see how likely it is for the higher-ups to assist with bank loans."
"Hmm, so procedures I am not clear about; you should inquire thoroughly?"
"Alright, I will go tomorrow."
"The road is rough, and there’s no rush."
"No, I’m in a hurry. I’ll take the car directly."
"Okay, then I’ll be going back. Village Chief Li, once you figure everything out, if the factory gets set up, I have over ten people to arrange for jobs."
Li Yungui nodded, "Alright, got it."
"Village Chief Li, don’t worry. If it really is established, there won’t be idlers; everyone in the village will have work." Wei Kaiyun first clarified his stance to prevent any misunderstanding between them.
Chaoyang escorted Wei Kaiyun out, then went to the fourth uncle’s house to call him over, also to share this good news with Xiang Dong.
Li Yunqiang arrived at his second brother’s house; the two sat on the kang smoking. "Yunqiang, let’s go together to see elder brother."
"Alright, I think Xiao Wei’s idea is excellent. If there’s sothing good, people will use it, and we can make money."
"Good, let’s set out early tomorrow morning."
"Hmm, I heard from Chaoyang that Wei Kaiyun agreed to take Chaoyang and Xiang Dong along?"
"Yes, Chaoyang asked himself, and Wei Kaiyun agreed."
"If the kids truly catch Wei Kaiyun’s eyes, it’s their good fortune."
"Yeah, with talented people guiding them, the brothers will go far."
Li Yunqiang didn’t stay for dinner at his second brother’s house but went back to prepare. He couldn’t go to elder brother’s empty-handed, so he hurried ho to grind cornal.
Chaoyang and Xiang Dong, being young n, found it very easy to push the millstone.
Wei Kaiyun returned ho; Jiang Xinyu was making dumplings with Sister-in-law Liu. He washed his hands to help roll out the dumpling skins.
This weather is perfect for eating dumplings. It’s said, nothing beats dumplings for taste, nor reclining for comfort—wise words passed down through generations.
Today, virtually every household in the village was making dumplings. If there wasn’t enough white flour, they mixed in cornal. If there wasn’t any at, they made vegetable fillings.
Won who’d been busy working finally had ti to prepare labor-intensive als today.
Qu Xiaoli was making dumplings too, "My dear, do you think the higher-ups will approve the factory establishnt by our village?"
"They should agree. It goes in the village’s na—this is collective."
"That would be wonderful; our village is not far from prosperity."
"Yes, the best decision I made was accepting Wei Kaiyun’s family. Look how our village now leads others so far. When I go to etings, every village chief flatters , and even the township chief treats better.
I plan, after returning from my eldest brother’s, to approach Xing Xiangzhang. He will certainly help for his career achievents."
"Our Chaoyang has good fortunes. The eldest went to serve in the army, and then when it was his turn, opportunities were scarce. I felt guilty, but now, with a ntor like Wei Kaiyun, as long as Chaoyang follows suit well, he will surely be successful."
Li Yungui puffed his pipe, not responding to his wife but agreeing internally. Just let the second son study well, and he will succeed in the future.
"My dear, going to the eldest brother’s requires taking sothing along, right? This afternoon, I’ll pick out the best soybeans for you to take." She knew her sister-in-law, always looking down on people from the countryside, but would frown if not given sothing as compensation.
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