If it weren’t for the fact that he was an elder, Hua Xiaomai really wanted to scoff in his face.
The way he spoke was so sanctimonious, talking about seeking benefits for the villagers. But when you got right down to it, wasn’t he just trying to secure a deal for himself? Dare to ask, sir, were you wholeheartedly intent on buying these chili seeds and ca running all the way here to haggle? How could you even bring yourself to say such things?
She really didn’t want to deal with the old man any longer and laughed lightly, "I really don’t know how to handle this matter. I’ll have to wait for Yuhuai to return and discuss it with him before we can set any terms. Besides, there’s still so ti before the chili harvest, no rush—Elder, you should hurry back to the little eatery. If I’m any later, I won’t make it in ti, and you shouldn’t be out here under the sun either. Go back early, so your family doesn’t worry."
Having said that, she didn’t wait to see the old man’s reaction; she simply turned and walked away, stepping down from the ridge in two or three strides.
It was too hot. After going there and back, she felt like she had been dredged out of water. Until Hua Xiaomai returned to the east side of the village, she still couldn’t quell the fire in her heart. When she stepped into the hall, her face looked rather upset. She kicked the bench that was in the way at the doorway and sat down at the table in a huff.
It wasn’t quite ti for a al yet, so there weren’t any custors in the shop. Chun Xi and La i had been chatting at the counter, and they were both sowhat surprised to see her like this. They exchanged a glance and quickly ca over with a cup of tea for her, smiling, "What happened to you? You went to the fields and ca back looking like soone has upset you. Could there be a problem with the chili?"
"The chili is just fine, too fine in fact. Soone has set their sights on it and is shaless!" Hua Xiaomai took the teacup and downed it in one go, then looked up and said angrily, "I never thought, with his age, and stature as the village head, that he could be so shaless. Doesn’t he blush when he says those things?"
"Who? Elder Liu?" La i was first startled, then let out a chuckle, "If it’s him, then you don’t need to be so angry. Who doesn’t know what kind of person he is in this village? Co on, tell us, what nonsense did he spout in front of you this ti?"
Hua Xiaomai went through the whole story with them and slapped the table, grinding her teeth as she said, "Talking about how we shouldn’t ’make money off the villagers.’ As if my chili peppers are pie falling from the sky for free! That little bit that was originally planted behind my sister and brother-in-law’s house, those seeds were also asked for by my Yuhuai, just over a dozen, and that was asking for a favor! Those two packets that Mr. Wu from Qingping County gave were also earned on my own rit, what do they have to do with him? I barely managed to grow two acres, and now he pops up wanting to cash in without any effort. Why should he?"
"Don’t be angry, don’t be angry," Chun Xi said with a smile, patting her back.
"How can I not be angry?" Hua Xiaomai looked up at her and La i, "Even you two sisters-in-law, with whom we get along so well, have never asked for any favors. It’s because I wanted to give them to you—it’s my stuff, and I’m happy to! The harvest isn’t even here yet, and he has the gall to co forward... I bla myself too, why did I have to go to the fields today of all days!"
"You could go on complaining indefinitely; with that man, if you got angry about everything, you’d have died eight hundred tis over by now." Chun Xi gently patted her on the shoulder, "In my opinion, just ignore him. If you really can’t stand it, you can always get ng Dai to stand up for you. I don’t believe he wouldn’t be afraid then?"
It was as if a light bulb had gone off, and Hua Xiaomai clapped her hands, "Right, that’s exactly it. Once my mother-in-law cos over, I’ll complain to her and get her to make my case. If Elder Liu dares to co around bothering again, then he can’t bla —you would think, knowing that we have soone formidable in the family, he wouldn’t dare..."
Chun Xi burst out laughing, handing her a basket of fruit from the counter, "That’s enough, take a breath. It looks like your affection for Yuhuai is growing stronger by the day. You don’t get embarrassed calling him ’my Yuhuai’ in front of us. Does he know how much you grumble about him? Here, these are green plums sent from Sauce Garden to make Plum Sauce and Dried Plum. They had an excess, and they look pretty good, so I took so. You can use them for candying or cooking. Why don’t you eat one now to cool off a bit?"
While speaking, she actually placed one in Hua Xiaomai’s hand.
Hua Xiaomai took one look and imdiately stepped back, quickly deflecting her hand, "That green and shiny thing, just looking at it makes my teeth feel sour. You want to eat that and die of sourness? I’ll make it into Dried Plum this afternoon. In a few days, we can share it around. It’s good for beating the heat on a hot day." After saying that, she took a deep breath and expelled all the pent-up frustration, then turned and went to the kitchen to get busy, not ntioning it further.
...
The expansion of the little eatery was progressing smoothly. Apart from the noise during the day, which prompted a few complaints from the custors coming to eat, there were no further issues. The fish pond was beginning to take shape, the northeast corner was cleared out, and everything was orderly.
The chili peppers in the field were gradually showing hints of red, and ng Yuhuai finally moved back ho from the County, passing the duty of Warehouse Guard to soone else. He took a few days off and was either overseeing the construction site or walking in the fields. Naturally, seizing every opportunity to be intimate with his wife was of paramount importance, sothing he could not afford to neglect.
Elder Liu did not approach Hua Xiaomai about buying chili peppers again, but as the day of harvest drew nearer, villagers gradually started coming to her, hinting at their desire to buy seeds. Without exception, they all hoped for a "neighborly" discount.
Hua Xiaomai, overwheld by their persistence and truly unwilling to compromise, simply shouldered everything off onto ng Yuhuai, holding onto his arm with a worried expression, "In your opinion, how should we handle this?" (To be continued. If you like this work, please head to Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian to read.)
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