The Old Captain glanced at Uncle Zhang, chuckled indifferently, and waved his hand, "No problem, just ask your grandma to cook a couple more dishes, and we’ll co to your house for a drink later."
"You guys must have so wine at ho, right?" He particularly asked this to Tong Suo.
"No, but my second grandpa does."
The Old Captain laughed heartily, "Good kid, this task is for you! Alright, let’s continue the eting."
Everyone settled down inside the house and started discussing the lands the production team already had, and then began to talk about whether North Hillside should be planted with trees?
In recent years, any piece of wasteland in the village has either been used to build houses or cleared to grow grains and vegetables. Now, aside from the paths to walk, even both sides of the village entrance are lined with rows of trees.
One year for grains, ten years for trees, a hundred years for people.
After the vigorous steel campaign, the Old Captain always rembered to plant more trees, especially seeing the younger generations in the village growing steadily. No matter when marrying or providing dowries, everything relies on timber. Instead of letting them damage the mountains in the future, it’s better to prepare ahead of ti.
If it weren’t for all the current restrictions, he would have loved to plant fruit trees all over North Hillside. Then the team could set up a chicken farm or a sheep farm there. Wouldn’t that be great?
Unfortunately... so let’s just plant trees. This ti, no one would criticize or complain.
"Do you guys think our team should put up so slogans or sothing?" After discussing the tasks for the upcoming year, Tang Zhonghua brought up so minor details.
The Old Captain didn’t mind this at all. Putting up a few more red banners would certainly look festive, just like how the town’s streets are filled with them. Their Zhang Family Village is also an advanced production team.
He smiled approvingly, "That’s a good idea. Take a look at who in the village might be suitable... Oh, and those educated youths could probably handle it."
Tang Zhonghua had the sa thought. Compared to the young n in the village, those spirited young students from big cities were more aware of what to write to align with policies.
The eting here was nearing its end.
anwhile, Mr. Zhang also ca to the village today.
With his younger family mbers returning after ages, it was ti for him to stop by and assure them of peace, also to deliver the two bottles of wine and pastries his eldest son sent through his grandson to his brothers.
If it weren’t for the fact that his brothers had been away for so long and the news couldn’t be kept under wraps, he really didn’t want the entire village to know. But with the news out and the children back, if he didn’t co, his eldest brother might overthink it.
The sky was still overcast with snow falling heavily, the wind blowing fiercely, making the snowflakes sting people’s faces, making noses run without any awareness.
Seeing that there was nothing more, as the evening approached with the weather worsening, Mr. Zhang chatted a bit with Uncle Zhang before heading back to town.
The days passed by, and the new school term was approaching. As those young students who had traveled far and wide returned with high spirits, the scenes they witnessed in the cities were replicated in their hotowns.
Everywhere people raised red flag portraits and chanted slogans loudly, with large badges pinned to their chests. Today soone was paraded on the streets, and tomorrow soone denounced the ’Four Olds’.
These big badges, so with diaters of even twelve centiters, were so heavy that they couldn’t be pinned to clothes with safety pins and had to be hung around necks with red ribbons.
This badge trend was initially designed and manufactured by so wealthy establishnts to show loyalty, with sizes more reasonable at first.
After the warm spring passed and the scorching sumr ca, unsurprisingly, even this county, which couldn’t be found on the map, succumbed to the craze.
With the wind blowing tighter and tighter, even Mother Zhang, known for her constant smile and loud laughter, tempered her expression, let alone Lin Juhua, who loved gossip and bustling places.
Old Zhang’s family desperately wanted to be separated from the trouble, and even those younger generations, after Zhang Guoqing’s warning, learned literary disputes and the art of hiding their talents.
Yet, surprises still happened...
In the bedroom, Huang Cuilan, with red, swollen eyes, was sobbing uncontrollably, constantly looking expectantly at her visiting mother-in-law.
Mother Zhang felt utterly helpless. How could she possibly choose? Should she turn her back on her own children to stand up for her in-laws?
Besides, what kind of reputation was it that Old Zhang’s family could afford to lose face over? She still had many grandchildren who hadn’t started their own families yet.
Lin Juhua looked disapprovingly at her sister-in-law. Your family is your blood, but isn’t your husband’s family too? Why has Old Zhang’s family been living so cautiously?
Yes, the Huang Family had landed in trouble again, and this ti there was a shaful scandal: Huang Cuilan’s niece was caught in an inappropriate affair.
If Zhou Jiao were present, she certainly wouldn’t have been able to maintain her usual calm deanor. Who would’ve guessed that the girl with the big round face was so daring!
An inappropriate affair — what a scandalous reputation to get tangled in. Are you going to claim your niece was forced for a job promotion? Who would believe that?
"Sister-in-law, don’t just cry; you need to think about what you want to do. Have you thought about how Mai Miao will find a suitor with such a cousin?"
Lin Juhua was infuriated at this mont! Crying, if crying helped, there’d be so many people crying worldwide.
"I just don’t know what to do. I don’t even dare to go to my parents’. My younger brother is still out driving, not yet back..."
With a loud bang, Mai Miao pushed the door open and entered, "Grandma, my grandpa and uncle have broken ties with that person. Mom, you don’t need to worry; my grandpa’s family is fine."
Huang Cuilan imdiately stood up and grabbed her, "Who told you that?"
Mai Miao frowned, holding back the intense pain in her wrist, supporting herself with her other hand, "My second uncle was gathering information the whole ti. I just got back from him."
Lin Juhua felt relieved, amazed at how the Huang Family handled the situation by severing ties first. Then she realized it wasn’t surprising; the Huang Family wouldn’t abandon their entire family for one daughter.
Mother Zhang patted her eldest daughter-in-law, pulled out her granddaughter’s hand, and fondly stroked her head, deciding not to scold her daughter-in-law at this mont, knowing her words might fall on deaf ears.
Mai Miao smiled endearingly at her, changing the topic, "Grandma, you won’t guess who reported this. My second uncle didn’t tell , but I overheard a few words."
Mother Zhang’s curiosity piqued, she asked, "Who is it?"
"My eldest cousin-in-law."
Huang Cuilan exclaid, "How could it be?"
Yet Mother Zhang and Lin Juhua ignored her, quietly awaiting Mai Miao to continue.
"It was said that last ti my eldest cousin-in-law had a miscarriage because of sothing she ate that was caused by her..."
Mother Zhang imdiately waved to stop her granddaughter from discussing these dirty matters.
It was probably one of those situations involving getting rid of unwanted pregnancies. When the eldest daughter-in-law had earlier ntioned family troubles, she didn’t want to hear them back then, nor did she now.
The in-laws led a troubled life before, and now they were being hit with a frying pan.
"How could it all co to this?"
Mother Zhang shot an irritated glance at her eldest daughter-in-law, "Enough! If you want to visit your parents, I won’t oppose it, but you need to clear your mind first, knowing what should and shouldn’t be said."
She furrowed her brows, "Get yourself together; otherwise, outsiders will think sothing happened to our family, spreading unnecessary bad luck."
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