Yang Yufen had originally intended to ask the villagers for help, but the work they had taken on wasn’t finished yet. She took some time to check on them and was relieved to see everyone in good spirits.
Each of them had saved up money, ready to bring it home for the New Year.
"Auntie, we heard from our families too—you helped arrange the fruit saplings. With the money we’ve earned this year, our families will have enough to buy fertilizer for the orchards."
Yang Yufen had expected some reluctance toward planting fruit trees, but to her surprise, everyone was enthusiastic. Every household in the village had agreed—if others were planting and they didn’t, they’d be at a disadvantage.
Their current jobs were all thanks to Shen Xianjun. In a place like the capital, with meals and lodging provided and wages paid on time every month—such good fortune wouldn’t have come their way unless someone genuinely cared for them.
The day after Gui Xiang returned, the village head also called. Originally, Xiu, Changshun’s wife, hadn’t wanted him to plant fruit trees. But after hearing that those who left the village had truly made money, she started considering sending Changshun out to work.
However, Changshun refused to go. For once, he stood firm and chose to plant trees instead. His two children, who had refused to go to school, were now working the fields with him after a stern beating.
Clearing the mountains of trees was no easy task. Unlike Yang Yufen and Aunt Wang, who were willing to spend money on hiring labor and machinery, the other villagers couldn’t afford such luxuries.
Even if they had the money, machinery wasn’t easy to come by.
Mature trees were sold directly to the lumber mill, which sent workers to cut them down. If any family wanted to keep some wood, they had to pay the labor costs themselves.
After selling the large trees, the fields were quickly harvested in autumn. Time slipped away unnoticed in the midst of all the busyness.
Before the freeze set in, the two-story staff dormitory was renovated, though the chicken farm only had its ground leveled.
"It’s fine, it’s fine. Starting in spring will give us a higher survival rate anyway. This pace is already quite fast."
Yang Yufen was very satisfied with the site. The two-story building, made of red bricks, was just right—three stories would have been too high and inconvenient for those with weak legs, but two stories were perfect, especially with plenty of space.
The first floor had eight rooms, with a latrine at one end and a washroom at the other. Across from the dormitory were the canteen and warehouse, which now stored tools and was spacious enough for winter activities.
Each room housed four to six people, and no one had any complaints—they had all squeezed together in makeshift shelters before.
Now, the rooms were clean and spacious, with bunk beds—the upper bunks for storage and the lower ones for sleeping. There was heating, and the washroom and canteen were next to each other, with a boiler providing hot water for baths in winter.
"Old friends, this place is really wonderful. To think we’d still be together like this in our later years—ha ha!"
Everyone moved into the new dormitory. Yang Yufen and Aunt Wang kept a room upstairs for themselves, useful when they were too busy at the orchard or if something delayed their return home.
Yang Yufen and Aunt Wang arranged to go shopping for New Year goods with Professor Wen. Aunt Liu’s legs made it hard for her to go out in the cold weather.
With international gold prices plummeting, Little Li held her child at the department store counter. These days, more people were selling gold than buying, so she had little to do. The store was warm, and she didn’t trust leaving the child at home.
Work was leisurely—she could knit sweaters while minding the child, playing with them from time to time.
Every time Yang Yufen came, she would habitually come to see Little Li. Just then, she saw Little Li playing with the child and laughing heartily.
"Grandma Yang, it's been a long time since you last came to the department store. You still look so energetic."
Little Li greeted Yang Yufen happily.
"I've been very busy these days. This child is so adorable, just like you."
Yang Yufen replied cheerfully.
"Grandma, the price of gold is quite suitable for purchase these days. Do you want to take a look?"
Little Li knew that Yang Yufen liked gold very much and would come to check it out every time.
"How suitable is it?"
Yang Yufen was indeed interested in taking a look.
Aunt Wang also came over.
"Now it's a hundred yuan per gram. Gold is a hard currency. It used to soar to over one hundred and fifty yuan. I also saved some when the price was low."
"One hundred yuan. Can you give a better deal if I buy a lot?"
Aunt Wang asked.
"Grandma, this is our internal price. If it weren't for Grandma Yang, others would have to pay the counter price."
After Little Li said that, she looked around and lowered her voice.
"I believe Little Li. Little Li, please take out those with good craftsmanship for us to have a look."
Yang Yufen gently pulled Aunt Wang, and Little Li smiled and went to get the key to open the cabinet.
After some selection, they all bought quite a lot. Among them, Yang Yufen bought the most. Aunt Wang and Professor Wen wanted to buy jade, but they didn't find any they liked for the moment.
"At this price, when I have more money in the future, I'll buy more. I just love this golden color."
Yang Yufen was very happy. She couldn't understand jade and other precious stones, and she thought gold was more reliable.
"It's a pity about those antiques from the past."
Aunt Wang sighed, and Professor Wen echoed. Apparently, they had seen more precious things.
Since they had bought a lot of things, Yang Yufen made two trips in her car to send the things back before coming to pick them up.
Another Spring Festival had arrived. After the Spring Festival, only five egg - laying hens were left among the chickens Yang Yufen had raised. Li Wen and Li Wu had grown another year older, and they took over the tasks of raising chickens and watering and weeding the backyard vegetable garden.
"From this year on, you are big kids. You can keep your lucky money by yourselves from now on. Each of you will get a weekly allowance for buying exercise books and pens. If you get full marks in the exams, there will be additional rewards."
Qin Nian said to the two children and bought each of them a piggy bank.
Qin Nian knew that the two children had been working as foreign - language tour guides for kids, and she didn't stop them. She just thought that the children were old enough to have an allowance.
"Wow! Mom, you are so great!"
Li Wen and Li Wu hugged Qin Nian's arms.
"Letting such young children manage their own money?"
Yang Yufen was a little worried because the two children's lucky money was really a large sum.
"Learning to manage money at this age can help them develop a concept of money earlier."
Qin Nian explained.
"Okay, if you say so, there must be a reason."
Yang Yufen didn't say more. The two children were really sensible. Looking at the certificates and little red flowers on the wall, Yang Yufen happily cooked delicious food for the children.
Shen Xianjun took a good seven - day rest at home during the Spring Festival and returned to the army on the fifth day of the first lunar month. Because he had taken too much leave, it was said that he wouldn't be able to take any leave for the next half - year.
Yang Yufen didn't have any particular thoughts about it because her daughter - in - law was about to throw herself into work soon. Among the people in several families, it turned out that Professor Wen had the most free time, and the children were completely under Professor Wen's care.
"You should listen to your grandma carefully. When you have a weekend off, I'll come back."
The ice has melted, and the orchard will soon be bustling again. It's troublesome to travel back and forth every day. You can't afford to miss the right season for growing crops.
