Er Gou, life in the countryside is so carefree!

As the farce over the greenhouse came to an end, the sun gradually set in the west, disappearing into the western gully, leaving only a fiery red sunset that dyed the rooftops and fields of Xiushui Village a warm red.

Zhao Laosan, clutching the dog skull with the bell, returned home, glancing back every few steps. He's probably kneeling before his ancestors' tablets now, questioning his existence. Liu Suanpan, bruised and battered, covered his face and slunk away, forgetting even to take the village accountant's ledger.

After arranging the subsequent greenhouse maintenance in the field, Chen Ergou hummed a little tune, put his hands behind his back, and strode home. As soon as he entered the courtyard, a rich aroma of meat mixed with the fresh scent of chives wafted out through the crack in the door, making one's stomach rumble.

"Sister-in-law! I'm back!" Chen Ergou shouted, his voice full of relief.

As the curtain to the main room was lifted, Zhang Qiaofen, wearing an apron and carrying a mortar and pestle, greeted everyone with a smile. Although she was working at home, she had clearly taken special care of herself today: her hair was slicked back and neatly styled in a bun, and her face had a rosy glow, free of her usual weariness. In particular, the emerald green "peace buckle" on her chest shimmered warmly in the setting sun, making her complexion even more radiant.

"You're back? Come on in, the dumplings are fresh out of the pot, still warm!" Zhang Qiaofen stepped forward and naturally took Er Gou's coat, her movements skillful and tacit, carrying the warmth of everyday life.

Chen Ergou grinned, his tone a mix of roguish intimacy: "Sister-in-law, what's the occasion? You even made dumplings, they smell delicious!"

"I know you worked really hard at the greenhouse today and must be exhausted, so I made you some of your favorite chive, egg, and pork filling to help you recover." Zhang Qiaofen's cheeks were slightly flushed as she turned and walked into the house. "Go wash your hands quickly. I also warmed up a pot of rice wine for you to help you relax."

Upon entering the house, two large platters of steaming dumplings were already laid out on the octagonal table. Each dumpling had a thin skin and a generous filling, resembling a plump little white ingot. Next to them was a plate of sliced ​​pig's head meat, a plate of fried peanuts, and a pot of warm, loose white liquor—in the countryside, this was the highest level of hospitality, something only prepared for special occasions like the New Year.

Chen Ergou washed his face, plopped down on a stool, picked up a dumpling, dipped it in minced garlic, and stuffed it into his mouth. The scalding hot meat juices burst in his mouth, the fresh aroma of chives mixed with the meat flavor instantly filling his mouth, and the warm taste slid down his throat, making him feel completely comfortable.

"Mmm—delicious! My sister-in-law's cooking is getting better and better!" Chen Ergou praised between chewing, his words muffled.

"Eat slowly, no one will take it from you." Zhang Qiaofen sat opposite him, not touching her chopsticks, but resting her chin on her hand, watching him eat with a satisfied look in her eyes.

"Ergou, what happened at the greenhouse today...it really scared me to death." Zhang Qiaofen was still a little frightened when she recalled the scene of Zhao Laosan causing trouble with his men during the day, and her voice became softer. "If Zhao Laosan really tries to extort money from us, where are we going to get that million?"

"Trying to extort me? He's still too green." Chen Ergou slurped down a small sip of liquor, picked up a peanut and tossed it into his mouth, chewing it with a crunch. His tone was disdainful. "Sister-in-law, you underestimate your man. These bastards are just bullies who prey on the weak. I saw through what was going on underground a long time ago, and I knew he was deliberately picking a fight, which is why I dared to gamble with them."

"You've got guts." Zhang Qiaofen poured him a full glass of wine, her eyes filled with admiration and heartache. "But Er Gou, you've really grown up. Before, Village Chief Zhao Dezhu was like a local tyrant in the village, who dared to mess with him? Today, you've brought him to his knees, and seeing that makes me feel so relieved."

"That's what makes you feel better!" Chen Ergou reached out and grasped Zhang Qiaofen's hand, which was resting on the table. He gently stroked the calluses left by years of hard work, and said earnestly, "Sister-in-law, I told you, from now on, no one in Xiushui Village will dare to bully us anymore. I'm going to make you live a good life and make everyone envious of you."

Zhang Qiaofen felt a warmth in her heart, and her eyes reddened slightly. She grasped Chen Ergou's large hand in return, her voice so gentle it could melt water: "Sister-in-law doesn't care about wearing gold and silver. As long as you're safe and sound, even if we eat coarse food every day, I'll be happy."

Their eyes met, and the atmosphere in the room was filled with warmth. Looking at his sister-in-law's gentle face under the lamplight, Chen Ergou felt reassured, and the effects of the alcohol subsided somewhat. He released her hand and placed a dumpling in her bowl: "Eat quickly, the dumplings are getting cold. Don't just stare at me."

Zhang Qiaofen nodded, picked up her chopsticks and ate in small bites, a satisfied smile on her face.

……

After a satisfying meal, night fell completely. The barking of dogs in the village was sparse, and the moon climbed to the treetops, illuminating the entire Xiushui Village in a silvery light, exuding the unique tranquility of a rural night.

Chen Ergou lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) for a while, then checked his watch; it was almost ten o'clock. Zhang Qiaofen finished cleaning up the dishes and went back to the east room to sleep. Chen Ergou quietly got up, put on a coat, and tiptoed out of the courtyard—he had things to do tonight.

During the day in the greenhouse, Wang Cuihua subtly winked at him, saying she wanted to discuss land reclamation with him and asked him to meet her that evening at the riverbank land she had just leased on the west side of the village. Chen Ergou knew that Wang Cuihua was an experienced farmer in the village, knowledgeable about farming, and had influence, so he wanted to talk to her about the specifics of land reclamation.

The riverbank at the west end of the village covered a full 120 mu (approximately 8 hectares), with dense reeds stretching along the riverbank, resembling a dark, green veil in the night. When Chen Ergou strolled to the edge of the field, all was quiet except for the gurgling of the flowing river and the chirping of insects in the grass.

"Coo-coo—coo-coo—" Chen Ergou imitated the call of a cuckoo twice, which was the secret signal he and Wang Cuihua had agreed upon.

A short while later, rustling sounds came from the cornfield, which was taller than a person. Then, a dark figure crouched down and emerged. By the moonlight, it was Wang Cuihua.

Tonight, Wang Cuihua wore a clean floral shirt and trousers, her hair was neatly combed, and she was carrying a cloth bag containing two bottles of water and a few steamed buns—clearly prepared in case she got hungry at night.

"Ergou, you've finally arrived!" Wang Cuihua greeted him, her tone tinged with urgency and a hint of barely perceptible admiration. "Seeing you handle that old bastard Zhao Dezhu so well during the day was so satisfying! I knew you were no ordinary person!"

"It's all trivial, not worth mentioning." Chen Ergou waved his hand and got straight to the point, "You called me here to talk about land reclamation, right?"

"Yes!" Wang Cuihua nodded, her eyes lighting up. "The whole village has heard about you leasing these 120 mu of land. I was thinking, this land has been abandoned for so many years, the weeds are taller than a person, clearing it won't be easy. I know a few trustworthy women in the village, they're all good at working, I was wondering if you need any help? Wages are negotiable, even some grain will do!"

Chen Ergou understood perfectly; this was exactly the effect he wanted. Wang Cuihua had influence among the widows in the village, and with her taking the lead, the land reclamation work would be much easier.

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Chen Ergou smiled, walked a few steps deeper into the cornfield, found a clean earthen slope and sat down. "This land really needs to be cleared of weeds and leveled first. It would be great if you could take the lead in finding some reliable people. I won't shortchange everyone on wages; it'll be paid by the day, much more than what you'd earn working in the city, plus room and board."

"Really? That's wonderful!" Wang Cuihua's eyes lit up even more, and she quickly sat down. "I knew you were generous! With you saying that, I'll talk to my girlfriends first thing tomorrow morning, and I promise I'll get everyone together for you!"

Chen Ergou took out a cigarette from his pocket, handed one to her, and lit one for himself: "Also, I have another request. When clearing the land, you must follow my instructions. You must listen to my arrangements regarding which areas to clear first and which to clear later. You cannot move or dig randomly."

"No problem! You're the boss, I'll listen to you!" Wang Cuihua agreed without hesitation. She picked up the cigarette Chen Ergou offered, but didn't light it, just playing with it in her hand. "By the way, Ergou, what are you planning to plant on this land? This riverbank land is vast, but the harvest from crops here hasn't been very good before."

"We'll grow medicinal herbs and special varieties of vegetables." Chen Ergou exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "I have unique planting methods that will make these crops grow well and be valuable. From now on, this place will be our treasure trove. Not only will I get rich, but everyone who works for me will live a good life."

Looking at his confident demeanor, Wang Cuihua felt completely at ease. She had previously worried that Chen Ergou was young and inexperienced, but now it seemed that he already had a complete plan.

"I believe you!" Wang Cuihua nodded emphatically. "I've been wearing that 'Spirit Fox Pendant' you gave me. Ever since I started wearing it, I feel much lighter and have more energy for work. I've decided you're the one for me; from now on, wherever you point, I'll go!"

Chen Ergou smiled. He had given the jade pendant to win people over, but he hadn't expected it to be so effective. "Don't worry, with me here, no one who follows me will suffer."

He paused, then continued, "In a couple of days, I'll set up a 'formation' in this field to help the crops grow. Just follow my markings and don't touch the marked areas."

"Set up a formation?" Wang Cuihua was taken aback for a moment, then understood. "Is it like the vegetables you grow in your greenhouse? Is there some kind of trick to it? Okay, I'll remember it. I'll definitely tell the sisters not to touch it randomly!" Although she didn't understand what a formation was, she knew that Chen Ergou was capable, so she just had to follow his instructions.

The two then discussed the specific details of the land reclamation, such as the start time, the tools needed, and the arrangements for meals and accommodation. They talked until late into the night before finalizing all the details.

"Alright, it's getting late, you should go back and get some rest." Chen Ergou stood up. "I'll go to the fields first thing tomorrow morning. Once you've gathered everyone, we'll officially start working."

"Okay! I'll take care of it first thing tomorrow morning!" Wang Cuihua also stood up, picked up the cloth bag, and said, "I'll be going now, you should go home early too."

Chen Ergou nodded, watching Wang Cuihua's figure disappear into the depths of the cornfield before turning to walk home. The night deepened, and the moonlight cast a long shadow upon him.

That day, after fighting off the local bully, settling accounts with the family, and finalizing plans for land reclamation, Chen Ergou was exhausted, but his heart was full of fulfillment. He knew that this riverbank would be the second piece of his business empire, and the first step in leading the people of Xiushui Village to prosperity.