Reborn in 1994: Starting from the Autumn Harvest

"Secretary, mine is also 16200. What do you think we should do about this?" He looked at Chen Hongguo meaningfully and said, "Should we compare prices again?"

"You're also 16200?!"

When Chen Hongjian revealed his bottom price, everyone was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

Since I've already been eliminated, watching the excitement won't be a complete waste of time.

Everyone's eyes darted back and forth between the Chen brothers, finally settling on the last note on the table.

Liu Guozhu immediately grabbed it, opened it, and looked at it, but he didn't show any surprise. It was as if it had nothing to do with him, and he handed it to the Party Secretary without even pausing for a second.

The Party Secretary glanced at it briefly, then showed it to everyone around him, and announced directly, "16200 yuan."

The news of the same price also spread from inside the courtyard to outside. Chen Yu stared blankly at Chen Mian, only to find that she had stood up at some point and was smiling as she approached him.

"Brother Yu, bring the tape recorder over to me tomorrow at noon. I'm leaving now." Chen Mian patted Chen Yu on the shoulder, her smile brighter than the midday sun.

"The price is the same, so why did you win?" Chen Yu instantly flew into a rage.

"Take your time looking around, I have things to do." Chen Mian didn't bother to turn back, she just waved goodbye.

Chen Hongjian did not raise his price. He had spent an afternoon thinking about the note. At the same price, he could not possibly lose. Even if the other party raised the price, he could still reason with them.

At this moment, Cheng Haichao caught up: "Where are you going?"

"Take Chen Shu to my older sister's place, and buy him a few books while you're at it."

"It's not even noon yet, what's the rush?"

Chen Mian paused, then turned around: "He spends all day either at school or playing, I need to find something for him to do."

"Just you wait and see, things inside are about to end."

……

All the village cadres in the room stood up at the same time. Party Secretary Yang Baoshuan, with a strong voice, announced loudly: "No need for a competition. I hereby announce that the one who has won the contracting rights to Liu Guozhu's 45 mu of land is: Chen Hongguo."

"ah?!"

Chen Hongjian exclaimed in surprise and stumbled. If it weren't for the people behind him holding him up, he would have fallen to the ground.

The next moment, as if he had been injected with adrenaline, he rushed to the table with an excited expression and questioned, "Why is it declared that the Red Country won just because the prices are the same?"

His elder brother, Chen Hongqiang, spoke up for him: "Secretary, you have to treat everyone fairly."

Party branch secretary Yang Baoshuan sighed and handed over Chen Hongguo's note: "Take a look, everyone. Does anyone have any objections?"

"360 yuan per mu, 45 mu totals 16200 yuan."

"Guozhu'er has a son and a daughter, and Chen Hongguo is willing to take care of them and provide them with three meals a day."

"Pesticide spraying is still needed before the cotton bolls open, and Chen Hongguo is willing to hire Liu Xia for 3 yuan per mu."

"After the cotton is unfurled, Chen Hongguo is willing to hire Liu Xia and Liu Guozhu to pick cotton at 3 jiao per jin."

"After the autumn harvest, all the cotton stalks from the 45 mu of land will belong to Liu Guozhu's family; Chen Hongguo will not take a single one."

"This serves as proof; please sign your name accordingly."

Chen Hongjian read it carefully again and again, panting heavily. He felt his head spinning and all his energy suddenly dissipated.

If it weren't for the table in front of them supporting them, and Chen Hongqiang squeezing over to help them up, they probably would have fallen over immediately.

Before long, most people knew the contents of Chen Hongguo's note, and their curiosity about watching the spectacle diminished, replaced by a sense of being moved.

Chen Hongguo handled this matter so thoroughly and with such kindness.

"Hongguo, you're the best." Liu Guoqiang gave Chen Hongguo a thumbs up, feeling very grateful. "I'm happy to have you farm this land. Just let me know if you need anything."

Liu Guozhu then brought his family over and thanked Chen Hongguo profusely.

But at that moment, a question that completely ruined the mood came out of Chen Hongjian's mouth: "Secretary, does Hongguo have any money?"

As soon as he said this, the whole room fell silent, and everyone's attention was once again focused on Chen Hongguo.

Yes, Liu Guozhu wants cash. Can Chen Hongguo come up with 16,000 yuan?

However, to everyone's surprise, before Chen Hongguo could speak, Party Secretary Yang Baoshuan said, "I'll vouch for him; he can definitely come up with the money."

Chen Hongjian was stunned. He never expected the Party Secretary to vouch for him: "How could he possibly have money? He even came to me to borrow money when he was building his house. How could he suddenly come up with so much money?"

Chen Hongguo, his face gloomy and utterly disappointed, had followed him around calling him "Fourth Brother" since he was a child, and after decades of doing so, this was all he got in return.

He could sense that these families were becoming increasingly distant from him, but he always respected them as his elder brothers.

Even when he went to Chen Hongjian to borrow money but failed, he naively thought it was because his non-agricultural wife wouldn't let him. In reality, the couple didn't treat him like a human being at all.

Even a clay figure has a temper; he was so angry that he wanted to argue with him.

Just then, Yang Baoshuan reached out and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "You're allowed to have money, but others aren't allowed to have principles? Just give Guozhu the full amount, why make such a fuss?"

"I don't care what kind of cadre your father-in-law is, in Anping Village, you have to follow the rules. Don't forget who you are just because you're working a lousy job outside."

Yang Baoshuan's powerful speech resonated with the villagers present, making them even more disgusted with Chen Hongjian.

You're rarely seen, and you don't really talk to the villagers. But now that something good has happened in the village, you've finally come back.

At this point, Liu Guoqiang couldn't stand it anymore: "The Party Secretary is right. If Hong Guo were such a reliable person, would he get involved in land leasing if he didn't have money?"

Upon hearing this, everyone agreed and immediately spoke up for Chen Hongguo.

People who were originally deeply divided now stood on the same side, which made Chen Hongjian's face turn pale and then red.

Without saying another word, he turned and pushed through the crowd, slinking away in a sorry state.

As soon as Chen Yu saw his father come out from outside the courtyard, he rushed over to greet him: "Dad, what happened?"

Chen Hongjian was panting heavily, his face dark. He couldn't say anything in front of so many people, so he just glared at them fiercely.

Startled, Chen Yu froze on the spot, completely bewildered.

……

On September 4, Chen Hongguo gained the approval of the villagers and, in front of them, counted out 16200 yuan and handed it to Liu Guozhu, completing the transaction and obtaining a certificate from the brigade headquarters.

Immediately afterwards, a feast was held in the afternoon, with wine and meat, to entertain the Liu Guoqiang brothers, several village officials, and respected elders such as Yang Baoyuan, bringing the matter to a perfect close.

However, compared to the harmony and beauty on this side, Chen Hongjian's resentment and anger on the other side had not dissipated in the slightest.

His face was as dark as still water, and there were large and small shards of glass scattered on the ground. Chen Yu was so frightened that he didn't dare to utter a single word, let alone mention that he had lost the tape recorder.

He didn't dare stay in the room for even a second longer, and quietly slipped out. He didn't dare tell anyone about it either, because he knew his father was very concerned about his reputation and would never allow any information to be revealed.

However, Chen Hongjian's wife was not happy. She was dressed in a bright and beautiful outfit, with face cream on. How could a child from a cadre family accept such treatment?

With her hands on her hips, she retorted, "Who are you trying to fool?"