Reborn in 1994: Starting from the Autumn Harvest

The two families gathered for dinner that evening. After dinner, the adults reminisced about the past and talked about leasing land.

Chen Mian then led Cheng Haichao to the west room and took out a poster of Shuhua.

"Yao Yuan has so many posters, why did you have to pick this one?"

Chen Mian stretched out her arms and pressed down on the poster, carefully examining Shuhua's short hair and beautiful face: "It's pretty, isn't it?"

"Where should I put it?"

"Just stick it on the east wall, a little away from the door frame."

Cheng Haichao held the tape in his hand, knelt on one knee by the kang (a heated brick bed), and looked around. There was only half a wall on the east side, while the west side was a whole wall, which could be seen as soon as you entered the room.

Some people were puzzled: "Wouldn't it be better to stick to the west side?"

Chen Mian raised her index finger and shook it at Cheng Haichao, then got onto the kang (a heated brick bed): "You don't understand, I wake up facing east every morning."

"What do you mean?"

Chen Mian taped up the poster, then took a few steps back to look at it, and said with satisfaction, "From today onwards, we're officially living together as Shuhua."

Cheng Haichao was even more bewildered: "Huh?!"

"I was on the kang (a heated brick bed), and she was on the wall. I could see her as soon as I opened my eyes."

"Hahaha..." Cheng Haichao slid down to his knees in one go, leaning over the edge of the kang (heated brick bed) and laughing uncontrollably. "You really..."

After pausing for a moment, Cheng Haichao looked up, straightened his middle parting, and asked curiously, "Didn't Yao Yuan say he'd get you a Luo Dayou poster later? Where will he put it?"

Chen Mian glanced at her sideways and sat down: "Is it any of your business?"

"Hey~ can you teach me how to sing?" Cheng Haichao asked eagerly.

The scene at the dance hall today was deeply etched in his mind. After returning home, he kept fantasizing about how wonderful it would have been if he could have sung back then.

Chen Mian is too possessive of her food; she keeps learning good things from me.

"Who are you planning to sing it for now? It's not going to be Gu Li again, is it?"

"You're such a jerk." Cheng Haichao's face fell, and he immediately stood up, refusing to study anymore.

Chen Mian got off the kang (heated brick bed) and put on her shoes, speaking sternly and righteously: "Let me tell you, I'm disgusted by Gu Li. If you contact her again, don't come looking for me."

"Then who wouldn't you get tired of?"

"Liu Xia".

As soon as Chen Mian finished speaking, a sharp, piercing "sizzle" sound came from outside.

The people in the three rooms realized it was a loudspeaker and quickly went out into the courtyard.

"Attention, everyone in the village! Attention, villagers!"

"In the past few days, the matter of Guozhu'er outsourcing land has caused quite a stir."

"Some villagers wanted to take on the project, but because of Guoqiang, they didn't dare to! Some villagers wanted to withdraw halfway through because of Guoqiang, and some villagers felt that it was unfair for Guoqiang to participate."

"Today, the brigade (village committee) will resolve this matter. Any villagers who are free can come and be witnesses."

"The location is at the brigade headquarters, everyone hurry up!"

……

When Chen Mian arrived at the brigade headquarters with her father, the spacious room was crowded with people, and there was a lot of noise.

Several broken desks were pieced together to form a long table, where village Party secretary Yang Baoshuan and several respected elders sat on the wider side.

Opposite them were Yang Zhanguo and other village representatives who strongly desired to lease the land.

On the other two narrow sides sat the brothers Liu Guozhu and Liu Guoqiang.

Looking at the layout of the room, which seemed to be a bit like a faction taking sides, Chen Mian quickly tugged at her father, signaling him to stand behind the Party Secretary. Then she gave Cheng Haichao a wink, determined to follow the brigade headquarters.

As the clock on the wall struck 9 o'clock, the Party Secretary spoke up: "Everyone, quiet down. Let Guozhu speak first; after all, it's his land."

Liu Guozhu's face was sallow, with heavy dark circles under his eyes, and his hair was half white.

He glanced at his older brother across from him, whose face was ashen, and then at Yang Zhanguo and the others on his left who were eager to try. He couldn't help but sigh.

"I'm thinking of waiting for the price of cotton to come down before we talk. I'll sign the contract with whoever offers the highest price. If the highest price is the same as my older brother's, then I'll give it to my older brother." After saying that, he sat down with a thud, turning his head to the side, not daring to look at the person opposite him.

Yang Zhanguo and the others glanced at Liu Guoqiang with smiles. They weren't afraid of comparing prices, but they were afraid that Liu Guoqiang would use family ties to pressure them.

"Guoqiang, what do you say?" the Party Secretary said to the right.

Liu Guoqiang stood up with a stern face, looked at the person opposite him, and let out a heavy sigh.

They had agreed that the land would be given to him, but then they changed their minds.

Yang Zhanguo and his gang actually banded together, demanding that the brigade headquarters take charge of the matter, and trying to pin the blame on themselves for exploiting their brothers.

Everyone in the village cares about their reputation. If this charge is established, not only will the person involved lose face, but their children will also be affected.

But admitting defeat is not an option; I can't swallow this insult.

"If they had just talked things out, I wouldn't have gotten involved. But now that he's pulled this stunt, I'm determined to take it."

He got angrier and angrier as he spoke, and looked at the row of trees on his right with a straight face, "As the older brother, it's only right and proper for me to farm my brother's land. I would never let Guozhu down."

"Hehe~"

The onlookers all showed disdain, and Yang Zhanguo and others couldn't help but curl their lips upwards, waiting for the Party Secretary to speak.

"You disagree with comparing prices, is that it?"

Hearing the Party Secretary's tone turn cold and sensing the pointing fingers of the onlookers, Liu Guoqiang forced a smile and replied, "I disagree, but I certainly won't let Guozhu suffer any losses."

The Party Secretary was well aware of the intentions of the people on the other side. They had come to see him once before, so he didn't plan to ask again.

Then I talked to the respected elders on both sides, thinking of asking them to step in and persuade them.

Yang Baoyuan, a respected teacher in the village, was well-liked and advised, "Guoqiang, you know your brother's situation better than anyone. Holding a grudge won't do anyone any good."

"How about we divide the 45 mu of land? You can plant a smaller portion at a lower price, and lease out the rest at a higher price."

"Uncle, it's not that we don't respect you, but they've all been taking advantage of me. If I let go today and walk out this door, who will take me seriously?" He slapped his face repeatedly as he spoke.

"Why are you being treated like this?" Yang Baoyuan frowned, slapping the table. "Tell me?"

"Is it that people don't take you seriously, or are you just being difficult for yourself?"

Liu Guoqiang remained silent, his tone weak and unresponsive, conveying the message: "That's just how I am, do whatever you want."

Two more elderly people then came out to try and mediate, but it was still to no avail.

In the end, the Party Secretary lost his temper and couldn't be bothered to waste any more words on the ungrateful Liu Guoqiang.

"Once the price of cotton comes down, we'll have a direct bidding process. Whoever bids the highest gets the contract, and we'll sign the agreement."

"No way." Liu Guoqiang stood up abruptly. He couldn't possibly come up with that much money. He waved his hand and refused. "This land was passed down from my father. Outsiders can't cultivate it."

"Bang!"

"You've gone too far! What kind of older brother are you? Look at your brother, he can't eat or sleep, he's crying in distress, isn't he pitiful?"

Yang Baoshuan is a veteran member of the Communist Party in the village and a former militia company commander. He has a strong and fiery temper.

He glared angrily, then slammed his fist on the table several times.

The scare instantly extinguished Liu Guoqiang's fierce demeanor and silenced the entire room, leaving only the sound of people breathing.

"How about we try a different method of comparing prices?"

The sudden sound startled everyone, and they all immediately locked onto Chen Mian's location.

Chen Hongguo frowned and quickly tugged at his son. Now that things had escalated to this point, anyone who spoke up would easily find themselves pleasing neither side.

"Why are you interrupting when adults are speaking? It's none of your business!"

"Get out!"

Chen Hongguo has always been known for his good temper, so his rare outburst of anger has truly surprised many of his acquaintances.

Especially a group of relatives, and Cheng Aiguo and his son who lived closest to them.

Seeing Chen Hongguo kicking his son and walking out, Yang Baoyuan spoke up: "Hongguo, what are you doing? Let the child finish what he has to say."

Yang Baoshuan chimed in, "It's just a few words, why are you taking it so seriously with a child?"

……