Li Yungui nodded, things are pretty much settled now.
He had done his best, but whether things turn out well or not is not up to him.
"Xing Xiangzhang, you rest; I’ll go see my big brother. The three nieces and nephews are at my place, and I need to tell him they’re all doing well, so he doesn’t worry."
Li Yungui went to Li Yunqiao’s office, the secretary opened the door and let him in.
"How is it?"
"Soone from the bank will go back with us."
"Hmm, how are Xue’er and the others?"
"The three kids are sensible, and now only the sweet potatoes are left to be harvested in the village."
"So soon?"
"With the tractor and cattle carts, the autumn harvest is quite fast."
"Just let the three kids stay there. There’s nothing much to learn at school anyway." Li Yunqiao said as he took out fifty yuan from his pocket and stuffed it into Li Yungui’s hand.
"Brother, I have money."
"This isn’t for you. Although I know your sister-in-law is nice, don’t let things be too hard over there. Take it; it’ll make feel better."
"No need, do nieces and nephews staying at my place need money?" Li Yungui was anxious.
"I said it’s for your sister-in-law. I’m at ease with the kids at your place."
"Still no need."
Li Yunqiao sighed, "Okay, I’ll go back on Sunday."
"Alright, the whole family can go see the pesticide factory building, it’s magnificent."
"Hong Lin and his wife are saving up their leave so when they have the baby they can rest a few days.
Yungui, I’ve divorced."
Li Yungui was stunned for a mont. Divorce in the village is seen as one of the worst things.
"Brother, at this age, getting a divorce?"
"Had enough, don’t worry about it, it’s fine." Li Yunqiao didn’t want to say much more.
"Brother, you should go back and talk to the three kids yourself."
"Yeah, I’ll go back this weekend." The kids are grown, sothing as big as the parents divorcing should be told to them.
Li Yungui sighed. Although that big sister-in-law really wasn’t great, he still felt a little sympathetic for her now that they were divorced.
Without a family, without a husband, it’s really not easy for a woman.
The two brothers talked about village matters, and when Li Yungui thought it was about ti, he left to find Xing Xiangzhang.
The two reached the station, t the bank staff, and the three of them waited for the bus before boarding together.
Once in the township, Li Yungui didn’t stay long. He told Xing Xiangzhang he’d take Mr. Liu back ho by bike.
Liu Zhibin, a city kid, found the crops quite fascinating on the way.
Li Yungui explained the types of crops to him. "Village Chief Li, is the autumn harvest starting now?"
"Yes, it’s not early anymore; by late October, the morning and evening temperatures drop below zero."
The two returned to the village, and Liu Zhibin was stunned, "Village Chief Li, has all the village’s crops been harvested?"
"Yes, all harvested. You see this level ground, it’s already planted with winter wheat."
"How co your village is so fast?"
"We plant early in the spring, so the grain matures early and is harvested early."
Liu Zhibin looked at the level ground, feeling as if it stretched endlessly.
"Mr. Liu, let’s go to my place and rest for a bit."
"Village Chief Li, I’d prefer to work first. Then I can leave early tomorrow to report back."
Li Yungui had no objections. "Then let’s go directly to see the factory, it’s just completed and hasn’t even had doors and windows installed yet."
Even Liu Zhibin, a city person, found it impressive by the factory.
"Village Chief Li, building this factory must have cost quite a bit, right?"
"Indeed, just the stones alone cost over five thousand, and the blue bricks less than forty thousand."
"Quite an impressive expense."
"Let’s go in and have a look, the ground inside is planned to be paved with blue bricks. When conditions improve, we hope to cent it."
"Not bad, not bad, it looks very spacious."
"It’s decent. We mainly do blending — there are several pesticide formulas, and we just need to buy the chemical ingredients, mix them according to the ratios, and then package them."
"Formulas?"
"Yes, but these have been tested. We’re all farrs here and know how important grain is to the people, so our pesticides won’t harm the crops."
Liu Zhibin nodded, planning to include these words in his report.
At that mont, a few village kids ran by to play. Li Yungui asked them to notify their families to prepare dinner.
Liu Zhibin examined the factory inside and out before heading back with Li Yungui.
"Thanks for the trouble today, Village Chief Li."
"No trouble, it’s a major village event. It’s Mr. Liu who’s done the hard work."
Liu Zhibin saw a tractor in the field from afar and curiously walked over. "Village Chief Li, what’s this?"
"Rotary tillers and seeders, we’re sowing wheat now."
"chanized?" Liu Zhibin had seen and heard about this in newspaper news, but this was his first sighting.
"Yes, it’s chanized. It’d be great if we had a harvester."
"Village Chief Li, it’s possible. I’ve seen in foreign newspapers that they have harvesters." Liu Zhibin was excited; he didn’t expect this remote mountain village to have chanized farming; he had indeed underestimated them.
"Of course, we look forward to having harvesters. That way, autumn harvest wouldn’t be as daunting, not feeling like shedding a layer of skin."
The two courteously returned to the Li Family.
Qu Xiaoli had just co back. She was preparing to cook.
But she was a bit troubled. The family could eat fine on regular days. But really, there wasn’t anything nice. She planned to learn from Teacher Jiang this year, curing and smoking at, so guests wouldn’t be poorly entertained.
"Mr. Liu, please co in."
Qu Xiaoli poured red sugar water for the two, feeling she would have to muster courage to borrow so at from Teacher Jiang, considering he’s a bank employee.
Jiang Xinyu didn’t hesitate and asked Sister-in-law Li to cut off a large chunk, about three to four pounds in size.
"Sister-in-law, are there any eggs at ho? I have so here."
"Yes, we have eggs at ho, thank you Teacher Jiang."
She planned to tell her husband when she got back to imdiately send money. Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing.
Originally, she intended to return the at, but nearing year’s end, they wouldn’t have much at allocated, so she’d rather take advantage by paying them.
Qu Xiaoli also took a bundle of huai leaves, which could be cooked upon return.
Dinner was just a bowl of braised pork, keeping the remainder to add a bit each day for the kids to satisfy their cravings.
Stead buns made of mixed flour, a bowl of braised pork, huai leaves boiled in at broth with cabbage, and a plate of fried eggs.
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