A few peaceful days passed before Ouyang Lei returned to collect vegetables from the other four households.
Of course, it was Lin Guangde who had notified him.
Lin Guangde was feeling quite proud these days, not only gaining favor with Brother Lei but also with the production team.
Although Tian Jing treated him coldly, she still had him run errands often.
The other families in the village who owed money for plastic sheeting practically fawned over him.
Because Brother Lei collecting the vegetables was more convenient than them selling them themselves, and he could even deliver the other half to the supply and marketing cooperative, it was incredibly convenient.
Ouyang Lei first went to the Li family, delivering the carpentry tools and the remaining money that Li Zhengguo had requested.
"When I went to deliver the vegetables, the director of the supply and marketing cooperative was unwilling. I turned to leave, and I don't know what he was thinking, but he suddenly caught up with me and wanted to follow me to see the vegetables."
"When he saw them, he grabbed me and wouldn't let go, almost taking the other half. I told him that I had bought the plastic sheeting on credit for the people in Kushan, and he was speechless."
"Then he called someone to collect the goods and left in a hurry. I suspect that old fellow went to get the plastic sheeting. Whether he gave it to the people in Kushan, I don't know. In any case, I can't get any more plastic sheeting out, it feels like a huge loss."
"Didn't you blame me for asking for plastic sheeting for the captain and party secretary on your behalf? Didn't you think it was unnecessary for me to make you sign the credit agreement?" Tian Jing wouldn't miss an opportunity to retort.
"Sister, Great Hero Tian, I was wrong, I was short-sighted."
"Hmph." Tian Jing haughtily lifted her chin. "You didn't look at the agreement clearly, did you? You even said I cheated you."
"I didn't look. What's the secret in the agreement?" Ouyang Lei asked eagerly.
"There's no deadline written. Wouldn't you add more plastic sheeting when their plastic sheeting is about to go bad?"
"Grandmother, my dear grandmother, no, you're my ancestor, you're here to look after your unaccomplished descendant."
Ouyang Lei was so excited that he was babbling incoherently.
"Get lost," Tian Jing said disdainfully. "Could I have such an ugly descendant as you?"
Ouyang Lei pointed at Li Zhengguo. "Blame him, he's too ugly."
"Scram."
Li Zhengguo wanted to kick the crazy man out. How could his descendant look like this crazy person? Besides, the crazy person's surname was Ouyang, not his Li.
"Hehe." Tian Jing looked at the two of them glaring at each other, finding it very amusing.
"Ouyang Lei, for now, this is how it is. After all, you're not legal. If you didn't have connections, would your territory still exist?"
For now? There's still a future? What does Great Hero know? Ouyang Lei, who was very perceptive, wanted to hold onto Great Hero's leg even tighter.
"Even though I knew that director was going for the plastic sheeting, I didn't dare to continue supplying Kushan with plastic sheeting, simply because of the restrictions. I understand. I can't go too far. If I go too far, I'll cross the line."
No wonder people with some status knew Ouyang Lei's background but still allowed him to exist; he was observant.
Li Zhengguo drove him away. "Hurry up and taste the vegetables. Other people's vegetables are definitely not as good as ours."
Ouyang Lei actually went to taste the vegetables.
He returned soon after, his face full of disdain. "The captain's and party secretary's families' vegetables are okay, similar to ordinary vegetables from outside, not too small in size."
"Wang's and Niu's vegetables are good. They're a bit worse than yours, but much better than the captain's and party secretary's. But that Li Uncle's vegetables are small and watery. I didn't take them."
Tian Jing looked at Li Zhengguo.
Li Zhengguo shook his head. Uncle was stubborn, what did it have to do with him?
Tian Jing waited for someone to show up, and soon, someone called from outside, "Zhengguo."
Ouyang Lei turned his head and saw a dark, thin man covered in dirt standing by the wide-open gate of the Li family's house.
"You, why are you chasing after me? I said I wouldn't take your family's vegetables."
"I, I'm looking for Cousin Zhengguo." Li Rongguo seemed a little flustered.
Ouyang Lei turned back to Li Zhengguo. "Is he your relative?"
"The Li Uncle you mentioned is my biological uncle, and this is my eldest cousin, Li Rongguo."
"With so many of you named Guo, I'm going to get confused."
Li Zhengguo ignored Ouyang Lei's nonsense and gestured to the man at the door. "Eldest Cousin, come in and talk."
"I..."
Li Rongguo didn't have the courage to enter this tall, walled compound.
"Come in," Li Zhengguo invited again.
Li Rongguo could only step inside, not daring to glance left or right.
"Sit here," Li Zhengguo pointed to the long bench beside him.
To entertain Ouyang Lei, the tables and benches from the main hall had been moved to the courtyard.
The same tables and benches as before made Li Rongguo's nervousness subside.
Li Zhengguo poured him a bowl of sugar water.
He took a small sip, it was extremely sweet.
"Eldest Cousin, if you have something to say, just say it."
"My vegetables didn't grow well, and Comrade Ouyang wouldn't take them. I don't know what to do? Should I still send them to the supply and marketing cooperative?"
"You planted them? Weren't they planted by Uncle?" Su Dan Novel Network
"I planted them. Father said we'd take turns each year, and asked me to plant them for the first year."
Ouyang Lei's squinty eyes widened in surprise. "Hey, are you your father's biological child? Your father is ripping you off."
"If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say it," Tian Jing glared at Ouyang Lei. "His father is very shrewd."
"Of course, he's shrewd. He's ripping off his own child and gaining experience at his child's expense."
Tian Jing looked at Li Zhengguo, who was hesitant to speak, and then at Li Rongguo, who looked embarrassed. She decided to "point at the mulberry and curse the locust" (i.e., criticize indirectly).
"Ouyang Lei, let me analyze this for you."
"You go ahead."
"You see, this Eldest Cousin is honest and diligent, and his own father is ripping him off, right?"
"Of course, anyone can see that."
"Out of the six plastic sheds in the village, the captain's and party secretary's families are not included, as they have their own methods. The Wang family's seedlings were cultivated with me, and the Niu family found their seedlings weren't strong enough and came to ask me for advice."
"The only one is Uncle's family. We didn't give them seedlings or help them, so you should know that our families don't have a good relationship."
"Regardless of the reason why biological brothers drifted apart, my husband still receives Eldest Cousin like this, which shows that your relationship from childhood wasn't bad."
"Eldest Cousin coming here now with a brave face isn't because his father sent him, but because he's truly desperate. Do you understand now?"
*Crack.*
Ouyang Lei slapped the table, startling the ashamed Li Rongguo.
"I understand. His father is still ripping him off, and indirectly ripping off your husband."
"He's not ripping off my husband, he can't. That father is using his seniority and pride, so he can't openly approach us, so he's ripping off his own child. It must be because of the good relationship between Eldest Cousin and my husband since childhood."
"What the hell," Ouyang Lei cursed. "Isn't this like doing that thing and that thing?"
Li Zhengguo grabbed Li Rongguo, who was about to leave. "Eldest Cousin, it's alright. I understand the temperaments of Uncle and Second Uncle, but I'm angry about their heartlessness."
"When my father was alive, we were like brothers. After my father passed away, we drifted apart for some reason. Since they want to mend the relationship now, why are they putting on airs?"
"They are the ones drifting apart and coming closer. We no longer care. We didn't try to get close to them in the past, and we certainly won't try to get close to them now. Uncle and Second Uncle both understand this, which is why they sent you to pave the way."
"Eldest Cousin, you don't need to feel guilty. None of this has anything to do with you. Our two side rooms have been nurturing seedlings. Hurry up and collect your vegetables, and come to me to exchange for seedlings."
"I'll exchange them for you. I'll exchange seeds for seedlings. Two seeds for one seedling. Only for you. For others, no matter who it is, it will be five cents per seedling."