Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

10:00 AM.

After three and a half hours of non-stop cycling, Wang Feng and Qin Jingru finally arrived at Qinjiazhuang in Changping.

As soon as she arrived at the village entrance, Qin Jingru looked towards the big tree at the village entrance, but she didn't see anyone there, which made her somewhat disappointed.

"Jingru, what are you looking at?" Wang Feng asked curiously.

"It's nothing, I was just checking to see if any older women were chatting under the big tree at the village entrance. I guess they've all gone to work in the fields," Qin Jingru explained with a smile.

Wang Feng nodded without saying much. The two rode their bicycles into Qin Family Village, handed two large Qianmen cigarettes to the militiamen at the village entrance, and headed towards Qin's father's house.

"Mom and Dad, I'm home!"

As soon as Qin Jingru arrived at her doorstep, she shouted anxiously, just like before.

Seeing that the gate was tightly closed, Wang Feng said speechlessly, "Jingru, I think Mom and Dad have both gone to work in the fields, they're not home."

Qin Jingru parked her bicycle and, sure enough, saw that the front gate was closed and the door was locked. She knew that her parents were really not home. It was the busy farming season, so they must have gone to work.

"Brother Wang Feng, wait here for me for a moment. I'm going to the fields to call my parents back."

"Okay, go ahead."

Qin Jingru nodded, got on her bicycle, and sped off.

Wang Feng parked his bicycle, lit a Zhonghua cigarette, took out a box of Lotus White wine from his spatial storage, and also took out four packs of Daqianmen cigarettes. He put them in another burlap sack and placed them in the large burlap sack that contained flour.

Wang Feng waited outside Qin's father's house for ten minutes, smoking two cigarettes in total, but still hadn't seen Qin Jingru return with her parents.

After waiting another five minutes, Qin Jingru finally returned on her bicycle, with her mother sitting on the back seat.

"Oh dear, Wang Feng, you and Jingru didn't even give us any advance notice before you came back. Your father and I weren't prepared at all."

As soon as Qin's mother got out of the car, she looked at Wang Feng with a reproachful expression, but her smiling face showed no sign of blame.

"Mom, we're in the city, about 70 or 80 miles away from Qin Family Village. How can we notify you? Second Uncle's oxcart only goes to the city every few days, and we usually have to go to work, so we don't run into him." Qin Jingru smoothed things over.

"Don't say any more, Mom. Hurry up and open the door so we can take the things inside."

"Why."

Qin's mother grinned, took out her key, and opened the door.

Wang Feng carried two large sacks into the house, and Qin's father also jogged back at that moment.

Wang Feng took out a Zhonghua cigarette and handed it to him, saying with a smile, "Dad, have a smoke."

Qin's father nodded, took the cigarette, and Wang Feng quickly took out a match to light it for him.

"Wang Feng, I heard from Jingru that you came back this time to see Jingru's second uncle about something?"

Qin's father exhaled a puff of smoke and looked at Wang Feng with a puzzled expression.

"Hehe, Dad, let's talk about it together when Uncle and Uncle arrive. By the way, Dad, have you told Uncle and Uncle to come over for lunch?"

"I told them they'd come over after they finish work."

"become."

Wang Feng looked at Qin Jingru and said, "Jingru, take the wild boar meat and flour to the kitchen first. Oh, and take out a box of cabbage and four packs of Daqianmen cigarettes. Give two packs to Second Uncle, and one pack each to First Uncle and Dad."

"Okay, Brother Wang Feng."

Qin Jingru smiled sweetly, opened the large sack, took out the tobacco and alcohol from the sack and put them on the ground. Carrying the flour in one hand and the wild boar meat in the other, she went to the kitchen.

Qin's mother originally wanted to help, but seeing how easily Jingru carried the two large sacks, she didn't say anything and followed her into the kitchen.

When she returned to the kitchen, she saw a sack full of wild boar meat, weighing at least thirty or forty pounds, and another sack full of white flour, probably weighing about forty pounds. She exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh my god, Jingru, are you guys living in a bad way? Do you even know how much flour and meat cost per pound these days?"

Qin Jingru was startled by her mother's exclamation and said speechlessly, "Mom, is it really necessary? You're making such a fuss, it startled me. It's just some wild boar meat and flour. Wang Feng hunted the wild boar meat himself, he didn't pay for it."

As she walked towards the living room, she said nonchalantly, "Mom, Wang Feng got another raise. Now he earns 99 yuan a month. Together, our salaries are 177.5 yuan a month. With such high salaries, what's wrong with bringing you some flour and meat?"

Qin's father was smoking and chatting with Wang Feng when he suddenly heard Jingru say that their combined monthly salary was 177.5 yuan, and that Wang Feng had received a raise, which startled him.

His mouth was agape, and he even forgot to exhale the smoke he had inhaled, staring at Qin Jingru with a mixture of surprise and disbelief.

Good heavens, they toil in the fields from dawn till dusk, and after a year of hard work, the whole family can't even save a few dozen yuan. But my daughter and son-in-law's monthly salary is equivalent to several years of theirs.

Qin's mother was also shocked by Qin Jingru's words. 99 yuan a month, and this is another raise?

Seeing the shocked expressions on her parents' faces, Qin Jingru felt a surge of pride and chuckled, saying:

"Mom and Dad, don't make such a fuss. Your children are city dwellers now, so what if it's only 177.5 yuan a month? Let me tell you, I'm getting a raise next month, and my salary will be 84.5 yuan a month then."

"Eight...eighty-four and a half dollars?"

Mr. and Mrs. Qin stared wide-eyed. 84.5 yuan plus 99 yuan, that's 183.5 yuan per month, my goodness.

Even Wang Feng looked at Qin Jingru with a puzzled expression. How come he didn't know that Jingru was getting a raise next month?

Seeing that even Wang Feng was looking at her, Qin Jingru felt even more smug. She thoroughly enjoyed the shocked expressions on others' faces. She waved her hand and smiled indifferently.

"Hey everyone, stop staring at me! It's just a raise, right? My cooking is so delicious, isn't this normal?"

"Jing...Jingru, is this true? You really got a raise again?" Qin's mother asked in a trembling voice.

Qin Jingru rolled her eyes: "Mom, what are you talking about? Would I lie to you? This was said personally by Director Li of our steel rolling mill, how could it be false? Starting next month, my salary will increase from 78.5 yuan to 84.5 yuan."

"Yes...yes, Jingru, you truly are my daughter, you're amazing."

Qin's mother spoke haltingly, her heart filled with shock and pride. No matter how capable Jingru was, she was still her daughter, wasn't she? No, she had to have a good talk with the village aunties and young wives after dinner.

Qin's father was also stunned into silence. He even burned his cigarette on his butt. He didn't know when his daughter had become so capable. Was this still the Qin Jingru he knew?

Wang Feng understood after hearing Qin Jingru's words.

It must be because of the "bitter memories and sweet tastes" meal. He and Qin Jingru made such a great contribution this time, and Li Huaide gave him an apprenticeship. How could he not show his appreciation to Jingru? Giving Jingru a raise and real benefits, instead of just making empty promises, is more in line with Li Huaide's character.