Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

9:30 a.m.

Wang Feng arrived at the entrance of Qinjiazhuang Village, handed two Daqianmen cigarettes to two militiamen, and then rode his bicycle into Qinjiazhuang.

"Oh, the son-in-law of the Qin family village has arrived!"

"My goodness, Wang Feng, with all these bags and packages, are you here to wish your father-in-law a Happy New Year?"

"Hehe, Third Uncle, Sixth Aunt, Happy New Year! Come have a smoke and some candy. I was too busy with family matters last year to come and say goodbye to my father-in-law, so this is a way of making up for it. I didn't bring anything valuable, just some cigarettes, alcohol, and cornmeal."

Along the way, they encountered many elderly men and women from Qin Family Village. Wang Feng offered cigarettes to the men and candy to the women, regardless of their age.

The elderly men and women accepted the cigarettes and candy, their smiles wide and their eyes almost disappearing. They were overjoyed to have Wang Feng as their son-in-law from Qin Family Village. Not only was he generous, but he was also very polite to them, these old folks. It was a pity they didn't have a daughter as beautiful as Qin Jingru, otherwise they would definitely have snatched this son-in-law away from Qin Changyao.

Wang Feng didn't chat with the elderly folks for long before riding off on his bicycle. He had to go back to the city after lunch.

When he arrived at his father-in-law's house, he saw Qin Dashan chopping firewood in the yard. At that moment, Qin Dashan also saw Wang Feng.

"Brother-in-law, you're here."

As he spoke, Qin Dashan shouted into the house, "Dad, Mom, my brother-in-law is here! Come out quickly!"

Wang Feng parked his bicycle, took out a Zhonghua cigarette from his pocket, offered one to Qin Dashan, and said with a smile:

"Brother, Happy New Year! Come on, have a smoke."

"Hey, brother-in-law, Happy New Year!"

Qin Dashan took the cigarette, scratched the back of his head, and smiled憨厚ly.

Hearing Qin Dashan's loud shout, Qin's parents, who were inside the house, quickly came out. Qin's mother, seeing Wang Feng, said with some surprise:

"Wang Feng, I thought you weren't coming back to Qin Family Village this year. How is it? Did Jingru give birth?"

"Dad, smoke."

Wang Feng first took out a Zhonghua cigarette and offered one to Qin's father before smiling and saying, "Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Jingru gave birth to a big, healthy boy on the 20th of the twelfth lunar month. Jingru is currently in her postpartum period, and since it's so cold, I haven't let her return to Qin Family Village. I'll bring Jingru and my grandson back to you all to see them in a while."

"Hahaha, great, great! This old man has been waiting for this day and night, and I finally have a grandson!"

Qin's father laughed heartily and said "good" three times in a row.

Qin's mother also grinned excitedly: "Wang Feng, you did the right thing. The weather is so cold now, and Jingru has just given birth. She can't be exposed to the cold wind. How about this, in a few days, we'll go to the city to see Jingru and her grandson."

"Dad, Mom, it's too much trouble for you to go to the city. Why don't we wait until Jingru finishes her postpartum confinement, and then I'll bring the baby back with Jingru so you can see him?" Wang Feng suggested.

Qin's mother glared at Wang Feng: "What's the trouble? My daughter has given birth. Even if it's troublesome, we still have to go see her, right? Besides, it's not spring planting season yet, and there's not much to do in the fields. Alright, it's settled then."

"Uh, okay."

He said that to his mother-in-law, so what else could he say?

"Hehe, Dad, Mom, our steel rolling mill starts work tomorrow. How about we go see Jingru and our nephew together this Sunday when we have the day off?" Qin Dashan said with a smile.

"Okay, it's settled then."

Qin's mother nodded and made the decision directly.

"Dashan, how can you be so clueless? What are you standing there for? Hurry up and bring your things inside! It's so cold outside, do you want us to starve here?"

"Hehe, I'll get it right away, I'll get it right away."

Qin Dashan smiled awkwardly. He felt that his status at home had plummeted ever since Jingru married Wang Feng.

After carrying the items inside, Wang Feng followed Qin's parents into the house. Wang Feng said:

"Dad, Mom, I brought a lot of flour and meat. Why don't you invite Uncle and Second Uncle over for lunch, and share some flour and meat with them?"

Upon hearing this, Qin's parents nodded.

"Dashan, go to your uncles' houses and tell them that Wang Feng is here. Tell them not to cook lunch today and to come to our house for lunch."

"Okay."

Qin Dashan agreed and was just about to leave when Wang Feng stopped him, took out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from his pocket, and handed it to him.

"Brother, you can have this cigarette."

"Hehe, thanks, brother-in-law."

Qin Dashan grinned, quickly stuffed the cigarette into his pocket, and ran outside, afraid that if he was a step too late the cigarette would be confiscated again.

Wang Feng then took out the clothes Qin Jingru had made and said, "Dad, Mom, these are clothes that Jingru made for you when she was bored at home. She said they were for you to wear when you were working. Try them on and see if they fit."

"Okay, okay."

Qin's parents took the clothes. Although the fabric was of inferior quality, the size was just right. They felt a warmth in their hearts. This daughter was truly worthy of their daughter's love, unlike Qin Huairu, that ungrateful wretch.

Taking advantage of the absence of outsiders, Wang Feng took out four bottles of ginseng and tiger bone wine, explained to them the preciousness and medicinal effects of the wine, and instructed them never to drink it in front of outsiders.

When Qin's parents heard that the wine was so precious, they were deeply moved. They were just peasants, how could they possibly have the opportunity to drink such a precious wine?

Just by hearing the names of the wines, you can tell they're made with ginseng or tiger bone. Is this something that peasants like them can drink?

This son-in-law is really, really... I don't even know what to say. If they had another daughter, she would definitely marry Wang Feng as well. This son-in-law is even more filial to them than their own son.

"Old Qin, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and hide the wine," Qin's mother urged.

"Yes, yes, I'll go hide it right now."

Just as Qin's father hid the wine, he saw that his eldest and second eldest brothers and their families had arrived.

"Uncle, Aunt, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Brother Dachang, Dawei, Yuru, Happy New Year! Come on, have a smoke."

As soon as Wang Feng saw people, he took out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes and gave one to each of them. For Yu Ru and her aunt and the other women, he took out a handful of White Rabbit milk candies and gave each of them a handful.

"Hahaha, good, good! Wang Feng, I heard that Jingru gave birth to a big, healthy boy. Next time you go back to Qin Family Village with Jingru, you must bring your grandson back for us to see," Qin Changyi laughed loudly.

When Auntie heard that Jingru had given birth, and that it was a big, healthy boy, she was overjoyed. Now that her daughter Qin Huairu was gone, she felt even more sorry for Jingru.

Who would have thought that one's own daughter is less filial than one's niece?

Qin's mother grinned and said, "Sister-in-law, it's getting late. Come and help me cook. Dachang, Dawei, and Yuru, you stay here and chat with your brother-in-law."

"become."

"Okay, Third Aunt."

Qin's mother then looked at Qin Dashan beside her and instructed, "Dashan, hurry up and chop the firewood outside. Otherwise, after you go to the city after lunch, are you going to leave this pile of firewood for us to chop? Dashan, I'm warning you, don't even think about being lazy. If you don't finish chopping this pile of firewood before lunch, don't even think about having lunch."

"Mom, don't worry, I'll definitely chop all the firewood for you today."

Soon, under Qin's mother's orderly arrangement, her eldest aunt and second aunt went to the kitchen with her, while Qin Dashan, with a bitter face, went outside to chop firewood.

Seeing this, Qin Dachang, Qin Dawei, and Qin Yuru all covered their mouths and chuckled.