"It is we who should thank you," Wu Zhenggui said, his gaze filled with paternal warmth as he looked at Song Nianchu.
"Oh, and by the way, the orders from the kitchen workshop have been cut in half tomorrow, but I don’t think we need to worry. They’ll surely pick up again later," Song Nianchu added, mentioning the matter of the canned fish in passing.
"Even if it’s halved, there’s still half left. As long as there’s work to do, our village will keep earning," Wu Zhenggui replied, a man who saw things clearly.
He understood the unpredictability of life and chose to focus on making the most of the present.
"That’s true," Song Nianchu agreed with a smile.
Their village chief was indeed wise.
"But, A-Chu, don’t let yourself get too worked up over village affairs. You should pay more attention to your personal matters," Wu Zhenggui said gently.
"What personal matters? Haven’t mine already been settled?" Song Nianchu blinked in confusion.
"You’re married, but you haven’t had children yet. Before, I thought Mu Shi'an wouldn’t stir up any trouble after coming to our village. With us watching over you, he wouldn’t dare mistreat you. But now, seeing the skills he’s shown, he doesn’t seem like an ordinary man. If he ever gets an opportunity to return to the city, having a child with him would keep him from any wicked ideas. Who knows? You might even get to enjoy city life with him," Wu Zhenggui argued earnestly.
Song Nianchu hadn’t expected Wu Zhenggui to plan so far ahead for her.
"Uncle Zhenggui, if a man wants to leave, even ten or eight children won’t tie him down. Besides, I don’t need him to give me a good life—I can make my own way just fine," Song Nianchu said, unbothered by the thought of Mu Shi'an leaving.
If he left, she’d simply find someone else. Men were hardly rare—two-legged ones were everywhere.
In her past life, she’d had friends who never married, only dated, and wouldn’t even glance at men over twenty-five.
She thought that kind of life sounded perfect—money, free time, and the affection of younger men.
"When did you start thinking like this?" Wu Zhenggui stared at her in disbelief.
"After traveling more and meeting more people, my perspective slowly changed," Song Nianchu replied smoothly, not batting an eye.
Wu Zhenggui studied her for a long moment before sighing deeply.
"I don’t know if letting you go out into the world was good for you or if it ruined you."
Though Wu Zhenggui was one of the more clear-headed people in Qinghe Fishing Village, his worldview still held that a woman’s ultimate destiny depended on a man.
It was an unspoken rule—once married, you followed your husband’s lead.
Even though Song Nianchu had taken in a son-in-law, Wu Zhenggui still worried Mu Shi'an might abandon her if she didn’t bear children.
This wasn’t necessarily ignorance—just a lack of exposure to progressive ideas. No one had ever told them that a woman could thrive without marriage.
Both men and women needed to find their own worth.
Without value, even bearing a hundred and eight children wouldn’t stop a husband from straying.
"I think I’m doing just fine. Look at how much our village has improved," Song Nianchu said, not bothering to correct Wu Zhenggui’s views. Actions spoke louder than words.
"Yes, everything’s getting better," Wu Zhenggui agreed, his face softening into a smile before turning serious again.
"Oh, right—our village’s fishing season is coming up. Are you joining the crew this time?"
Song Nianchu had always been a key member on past trips, thanks to her strength. But now, with her busy schedule, a single voyage could take half a month or longer.
With her away for so long, he worried no one could handle any issues that might arise at the kitchen workshop.
"I won’t be going this time. Have the younger men take charge—whatever they catch will be enough," Song Nianchu decided after a moment’s thought.
"That’s what I was thinking too," Wu Zhenggui nodded.
They’d been assigned the last fishing slot this season, so the haul likely wouldn’t be large.
Rather than gambling on an uncertain trip, it was better for Song Nianchu to focus on immediate priorities.
"Then it’s settled. Once the notice arrives, organize the villagers for the trip," Song Nianchu confirmed.
"Understood," Wu Zhenggui agreed.
"..."
Before leaving, Wu Zhenggui handed Song Nianchu another certificate for her to finalize deliveries with the market.
Meanwhile, she carried the first batch of machine-woven fishing nets to the county’s tackle shop.
"Comrade Song, weren’t you here just a while ago? Why are you back so soon?" The guard at the fishing gear factory looked surprised.
Song Nianchu usually came once a month, sometimes even every six weeks.
But this time, less than half a month had passed—and she was hauling a sizable load.
"That’s right. With no fishing trips lately, the villagers have been free, so productivity’s been good," Song Nianchu replied cheerfully before heading straight into the factory.
She made her way to the warehouse, where He Zhiyuan was reviewing inventory lists when a shadow fell over him.
Looking up, he was met with Song Nianchu’s bright, radiant smile.
"Comrade Song? What brings you here?" He Zhiyuan mirrored the guard’s astonishment.
"I’m here to deliver goods. Take a look at the quality," Song Nianchu said, setting down the large basket strapped to her back.
He Zhiyuan stood and approached, his eyes widening at the sight of the tightly packed nets.
"Comrade Song, it hasn’t been long since your last delivery. How did your village weave so many nets in such a short time?" he asked, incredulous.
"Check the quality first," Song Nianchu urged with a smile.
Though puzzled, He Zhiyuan inspected the nets.
The moment he did, his shock deepened.
The mesh and knots were as precise as a template. While Song Nianchu’s previous deliveries had been well-made, handwoven nets inevitably had minor inconsistencies.
Larger nets, often woven by multiple people, showed even more variation.
But this batch—whether small or large—was nearly flawless.
"Comrade Song, how did you manage this? These are the most uniform nets I’ve ever received!" He Zhiyuan’s voice brimmed with excitement.
Had Qinghe Fishing Village discovered some new technique?
Not only were they fast, but the quality was unmatched.
"So, will you take them?" Song Nianchu countered instead of answering.
"With quality like this? Absolutely!" He Zhiyuan replied without hesitation.
"And if we bring more of the same quality, would you take those too?" Song Nianchu pressed.
