The timeline system has gone awry; they insist that steamed buns are a magic pill.

"What did you say? Number one in the whole county, your third brother?"

Shi Lanhua couldn't sit still any longer. Her third son, who had been causing her trouble for no reason, had won first place in a competition held by the county revolutionary committee.

At first, she couldn't believe it, but her daughter, grandson, and granddaughter all said so, so there was no doubt that it was true.

"Is this even possible?"

Li Qingmei said proudly, "Mom, you don't know, Director Ma of the commune's Revolutionary Committee chatted with Third Brother the whole way, it was so warm and friendly, oh my."

"So, being number one in the whole county, isn't that something to brag about?"

"Speaking of which, Mom, you mentioned rewards? Yes, there are some, some better, with money and coupons. Third Brother also said the commune will definitely have some too, at least two rewards." Li Qingmei got more and more excited as she spoke, completely unaware that Shi Lanhua's eyes had changed.

"Where's your brother now?"

"I just ran into Brother Qinghui at the brigade intersection. He called for Third Brother to go to the brigade headquarters, saying Uncle Fuyuan needs to see him." Li Qingmei picked up her water and took a sip. "He probably won't be back for a while."

"Did you go to the brigade headquarters?"

Shi Lanhua was still a little worried, so she got up and left.

"Mom, you're not cooking? Where are you going?"

"Go to the team."

Shi Lanhua felt uneasy at the thought of Li Qingqiu carrying money and tickets; the kid might be up to no good.

Shi Lan Hua, the little old lady, hurried towards the brigade headquarters with her bound feet. She didn't have time to pay attention to the six aunties and a few other day laborers she encountered in the bamboo weaving courtyard.

"What's wrong? What's going on?"

Aunt Liu thought there was going to be a good show, but Shi Lanhua didn't have time to pay attention to her. She just glared at her and was about to leave.

"What's so smug about? Your Li Laosan can't even sell his mushroom branches."

"What did you say?"

"What did I say? It's the truth. The agricultural technology station is free, but your Li Laosan is obsessed with money. Does he really think we're stupid?" Aunt Liu has finally turned her life around these past two days. Seeing Li Qingqiu making money selling mushroom branches every day makes her feel so uncomfortable and frustrated.

"I don't have time to deal with you right now, but wait until I have some free time and see what I do to you."

Shi Lan Hua snorted. So what if the fungal branches can't be sold? Her third son is doing very well now. He went to the county town to compete and won first place in the whole county. In the past, that would have been at least a scholar.

In the entire Lijia'ao village, it's hard to imagine any family ever producing the top performer in the county or even the commune.

Aunt Liu realized that something big was going to happen, and she couldn't be left out, so she quickly called over Big Foot Sister-in-law and the others.

……

As soon as Li Qingqiu returned to Lijia'ao, Li Qinghui called out to him, saying that Li Qingqiu was looking for him. Li Qingqiu remembered the quotation contest, where he had won first place in the county and received some kind of reward from the brigade. He happily went over there.

Who knew that as soon as they arrived at the brigade, before they even had a chance to drink water, Li Fuyuan took them to the brigade's mushroom house.

"Look, we've harvested quite a few snow mushrooms. Shouldn't we notify the supply and marketing cooperative?"

Li Fuyuan pointed to the room full of snow mushrooms. Goodness, they were growing quite well, mostly fully formed. "As for the notification, Uncle Fuyuan, you can handle this yourself. Why did you call me here?"

"It's because you know more about this stuff. We don't know anything about snow mushrooms. Come and take a look so you'll have a better understanding." Li Fuyuan and Li Fuluo discussed it. They originally planned to go to the commune, but then they decided to wait for Li Qingqiu to come back first.

"There's one more thing."

Li Fuyuan pointed outside, and the two went into the courtyard. Li Fuyuan whispered, "The team plans to order another hundred mushroom spawn."

"Ah, Uncle Fuyuan, the commune's agricultural technology station said they'd provide the mycelium for free."

Li Qingqiu was somewhat surprised; after all, if it's free, who would want to pay for it?

"I've discussed it with your Uncle Fuluo. We don't know when the commune will offer free services. You should hurry up and finalize things sooner; maybe we can get a batch before the new year," Li Fuyuan said. "If we really wait for the agricultural technology station, who knows when that will take? The whole commune is really looking forward to it."

"That's true."

"Oh, right, a few other families also need to order some mushroom scions."

Li Fuyuan took out a slip of paper and handed it to Li Qingqiu. Li Qingqiu glanced at it and saw that Li Fuyuan's family had ordered ten branches, Li Fuluo's family had ordered ten branches, and there were also orders from Li Dajun, Li Dalong, Li Dahu, and others, totaling more than a hundred branches.

"Some other members are also planning to order your mushroom branches, but they'll have to wait until the snow mushrooms are sold."

Li Fuyuan said with a smile, "Everyone thinks that although 50 cents is not cheap, you did a good job with the mushroom branches, they grew quickly, and most importantly, you really delivered on your promise. You've got at least three pounds, so 50 cents is really not expensive."

"Uncle Fuyuan, there's no need. I don't really need that much."

"What, you think we're subsidizing you? We're just earning some pocket money," Li Fuyuan said with a smile, waving his hand. "Don't overthink it. Some other members might be struggling financially and haven't quite figured things out yet, so please don't blame them."

"Don't mention it. I wouldn't force anyone to buy or sell. It's voluntary; whether you buy or not is up to you."

Li Qingqiu was somewhat moved. In the past few days, the agricultural technology station had been offering free mycelium, but many people in the brigade had been sarcastic and cynical.

Unexpectedly, quite a few people supported him. Li Qingqiu glanced at the list and saw that the treasure hunting team and the hunting team had received support from several families, a few in total.

Li Qinglian and his buddies even bought some themselves. Li Qingqiu was genuinely touched by their support. "Uncle Fuyuan, I think tomorrow will be great; we can harvest mushrooms then."

"Alright, I'll notify everyone tomorrow morning to pick mushrooms and send them to the supply and marketing cooperative."

"Sending it there is not as good as having the supply and marketing cooperative come to our brigade."

"Will this work?"

"Why not? This is the first batch of snow mushrooms in our brigade. The supply and marketing cooperative will probably be so happy they won't be able to sleep if they know we can grow mushrooms," Li Qingqiu said with a smile. "Just give them a heads-up, and they'll come and collect them. They can do it right by the brigade's well."

"Okay, I'll have someone contact the supply and marketing cooperative about this."

I don't know the meaning behind Li Qingqiu's actions, I'll just cooperate.

"I've been so busy talking about mushrooms, how was your trip to the county town?"

"It's alright. First, I went to the county revolutionary committee for two rounds of training, and then I went to the county agricultural technology station to receive an award," Li Qingqiu said casually, taking a sip of water.

"The agricultural technology station really did give an award."

"They gave it to us, but the reward was so-so. Fortunately, the county revolutionary committee also gave us a reward later."

"What award? How did the Revolutionary Committee award you this?"

"This is just a study guide, a report of achievements. I put in a little effort, but who knew I'd become number one in the county." Li Qingqiu said casually, but when Li Fuyuan heard "number one in the county," his heart skipped a beat, and he dropped the porcelain mug he was holding.

"What did you say?"

"First place in the county, a quote contest?"

"What happened? Why are they arguing about it?"

When Li Fuluo heard Li Fuyuan loudly questioning Li Qingqiu, he thought something had happened and rushed in. He saw a porcelain jar lying on the ground and tea spilled all over the floor.

"What's going on? Ask this kid."

"What's wrong, Li Qingqiu? Tell me properly."

"Actually, it's nothing. I just went to the county to participate in a quotation competition. I didn't expect that I would become the top student in the whole county with just a casual test."

"What? You said you won first place in the county's quote contest?"

"yes."

"Actually, it's nothing. We're tied for first place, sigh."

"Tie for first place, that's still amazing! First in the whole county! When have we ever had someone from Lijia'ao come up with the best in the whole county?" Li Fuluo grabbed Li Qingqiu's shoulder and patted him a few times. "Good lad, you've got some skills."

"It's alright, just so-so, I didn't put in much effort."

"You little rascal, you're getting cocky just because I said you're fat."

Li Fulu slapped Li Qingqiu in an annoyed tone. "This kid, you can't give him any credit, or he'll take advantage of you."

"Director Guo of the commune already knows."

"I know, I called home early this morning, and I just got back from the commune."

Li Qingqiu moved a little away from Li Fuluo, feeling a bit uncomfortable being hugged by an old man. "You wouldn't believe it, as soon as I arrived at the commune, I was called to the commune compound. As soon as I entered the office, good heavens, the old Party Secretary was there too. He said he came specifically to see me."

"The old Party Secretary usually stays at home recuperating from illness; I haven't seen him for several years."

Li Fuyuan was surprised, but when he thought about how Li Qingqiu was the best in the whole county, and how Lishan Commune was one of the poorest communes in the county, not only was it economically backward and had many poor production brigades, but it also ranked last in various learning reports.

With everyone starving, who could possibly keep up the daily routine of reporting in the morning and evening? Unexpectedly, Lishan Commune won first place in this quotation contest. The old Party Secretary was pleased, and it seemed reasonable for him to come out and meet Li Qingqiu.

"Good lad."

"Having gained the appreciation of the old Party Secretary, he was considered a prominent figure in Lishan Commune."

Li Fulu sighed, "This unreliable kid has done something big; it's something only an ordinary person could do."

"What reward did the commune give?"

"It's nothing, five yuan, some tickets."

"It's not bad, our commune is still quite poor."

"We'll discuss this with the team later. We won't say much, but we should at least give them some rewards." Li Fuyuan and Li Fuluo exchanged a glance. They were the best in the whole county. It's a good thing we can't open the ancestral hall now, otherwise we definitely would have.

Just as the two were discussing what reward to give, Shi Lanhua's voice came in.

"Third brother, are you inside?"

"Mom, what brings you here?"

Li Qingqiu hurriedly put down the porcelain jar, stood up, and walked out of the office.

"I heard from Xiaomei that you won first place in the county competition?"

"Yeah, it wasn't really a competition, just a learning report meeting. We had two learning activities, and I was lucky enough to get a tie for first place. It wasn't really anything special." Li Qingqiu's words were somewhat incoherent.

"What do you mean 'it's nothing'? Being number one in the whole county is a small matter. You, don't talk nonsense."

"Okay, okay, Mom, whatever you say."

Li Qingqiu raised his hands in surrender. He couldn't argue with Shi Lanhua, otherwise she might really use her methods and hit him.

"Your younger sister said that the county and the commune both gave rewards."

"yes."

"Where are the things?"

"In my pocket."

Li Qingqiu said subconsciously, "No, Mom, don't do it! Really, just say the word and I'll give it to you." Anyway, aside from the bonus, half of the other tickets were on the storage shelf.

"So many?"

"It's alright."

Li Qingqiu said with a smile, "Director Guo thought I had made a great contribution to the commune, and even specially approved a bicycle ticket for me."

"Huh, a bicycle ticket?"

Aunt Liu, who had just come over, and Li Fuyuan and Li Fuluo, who had just come out of the office, were all shocked by the bicycle ticket. It was a bicycle ticket!

Are you serious?

"Sixth Aunt, did you hear that? The commune is awarding Li Qingqiu a bicycle voucher!"

"How is this possible? What did Li Qingqiu do? Have the commune cadres gone mad?"