The new day dawned, and the village, after a night of slumber, slowly came back to life with the rising sun.
Zhao Sanshen picked over ten pounds of peaches from her own tree and instructed her daughter-in-law, "I'm going to take these to Xie Sui. You make breakfast."
"Mom, don't you hate Xie Sui the most? You curse him every day, calling him the most useless street loafer, a good-for-nothing. Why are you taking him peaches?"
The eldest daughter-in-law, Zhang Honglian, asked in surprise. This wasn't like her mother-in-law at all. She wouldn't be able to eat without scolding Xie Sui at least once a day.
"What do you know? I don't like Xie Sui, but I like money. Money hasn't wronged me, and if he pays, I'll sell them. I can buy meat for my grandson."
"Okay, okay, Grandma, remember to buy meat! I haven't eaten meat in so long."
The grandson was eight years old and always hungry. Even the village chief's family wasn't wealthy. Eating meat once a month was considered a good life.
"That's right, Mom is smart."
"Of course, how else could Mom manage such a big family?"
Zhao Sanshen swayed her hips and happily headed to Xie Sui's house.
He had paid her the past few days. It seemed Xie Sui was finally doing something legitimate.
"Third Aunt, where are you off to so early in the morning?"
"Taking peaches to Xie Sui. Don't you have a peach tree? They're two mao per catty. Selling them to him will help with household expenses. Isn't that better than letting them rot?"
"Oh, Third Aunt, did you just wake up? Are you dreaming?
Xie Sui is lucky if he doesn't ruin our peach trees. For him to pay, the sun would have to rise from the west.
I picked peaches yesterday, but I gave him an IOU. Where would he get money?"
Zhao Sanshen's face turned green. "That can't be right. He paid my family!"
"What? Why didn't he pay me?"
The villager's expression changed. Was he picking on the weak? He paid the village chief's family but gave them an IOU. This kid really needed a beating.
"Come on, I'll go with Third Aunt to see. If he doesn't pay, I'll beat him to death. I wouldn't have given him credit if it weren't for Lin Wanwan raising her children with such difficulty!"
Zhao Sanshen felt a bit embarrassed. She seemed to have caused trouble.
"Let's go together then."
The villager's surname was Zhang, Zhang Wenfeng's father, named Zhang Yutian. He disliked Xie Sui the most. His own son was led astray by Xie Sui, buying a white shirt. He didn't look at his face, and the white shirt only made him look darker.
There was one upside, though. Walking at night, he wouldn't be bumped into.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, wishing he could grab Xie Sui and give him a good beating.
This was too much.
Xie Sui's family was having breakfast. Each of the three of them had a bowl of steamed eggs. Lin Wanwan didn't want to eat, but Xie Sui insisted, "In my eyes, you're still a big child.
I've wronged you so much before. Shouldn't you eat some eggs to nourish yourself?
From now on, you'll eat eggs every day. When you get tired of them, we'll have bird's nest and sea cucumber. My wife, Xie Sui's wife, deserves to live a life of luxury."
Lin Wanwan blushed at his words and chided, "Shut up. I'm satisfied if I don't suffer. I don't dare to dream of enjoying a life of luxury with you."
"You're boasting without shame. Aren't you afraid of the wind catching your tongue?
Having eggs to eat means you're making money. Can you settle yesterday's IOU?"
Zhang Yutian and Zhao Sanshen entered just as they heard this. Zhang Yutian was furious. He was good at coaxing people, and they even helped him count money after buying from him.
He even coaxed his own wife like this. Poor Lin Wanwan, she was fooled by him into having a son and missed her chance to return to the city.
"Oh, Uncle Zhang, you're here.
No problem, how much is it? I'll settle it immediately. Did you bring peaches today? Save me a trip."
Xie Sui put down his chopsticks and invited them in to sit.
"You're really going to pay?"
"Why wouldn't I? I, Xie Sui, have reformed and am doing legitimate business now. I'll buy all your peaches, as many as you have.
Third Aunt, is this from your family? Let me weigh it. Please wait."
"Hello Grandma Zhao, hello Grandpa Zhang."
Dou Dou and Ding Ding greeted them sweetly. The two nodded, "Good, good, such well-behaved children. Hurry up and eat, don't let it get cold."
The two buried their heads in the steamed eggs, which were tender, smooth, and fragrant. They licked their tongues and swallowed, finding them delicious.
"Third Aunt, it's a little over fourteen catties. I'll round it up to fifteen. That's three yuan. Wife, get the money!"
"Okay, please wait, Third Aunt."
When the three yuan were placed in her hand, Zhang Yutian finally believed it was true. He couldn't sit still anymore. "I'll go home and pick peaches for you."
"Alright, I'll be waiting. While you're at it, tell the other uncles to bring any peaches they have and settle yesterday's IOUs."
There were only about a dozen families in the village with peach trees. They all brought about ten pounds of peaches, and the IOUs from yesterday were settled. They all praised Xie Sui for his progress and business acumen.
Another hundred catties of peaches were piled high in the yard.
"Wife, you and the children stay home and process the peaches. Find a couple of aunts to help, and don't go out. I'm going to the town to sell yesterday's canned goods."
"You, be careful."
"If my wife gives me a hug of love, I'll have a smooth journey."
Lin Wanwan: "..."
This guy. Always saying such embarrassing things. So shameless.
"No hugs, but do you want a kick?"
"That's fine too. Whatever my wife gives is good."
Xie Sui grinned cheekily. Expecting his wife to initiate was impossible. He reached out and hugged her, "I'll be back."
Lin Wanwan didn't push him away after all. She watched him leave the village, her eyes filled with worry.
Unconsciously, the thought of perishing with Xie Sui at the beginning had faded. She now just wished for their days to continue like this.
Yesterday, when Xie Sui confessed to her, Lin Wanwan was terrified. Xie Sui comforted her for a long time, telling her his plan, which was to deal with Chen Qiang and his gang today.
Not just for himself, but for all the children in the town, Xie Sui was determined to get rid of their group.
Lin Wanwan returned home to find two aunts waiting for her. "Wanwan is back? Just tell us what you need done. We're efficient workers and guarantee we'll do a good job."
"What are you talking about, Aunties? How can I dare to order you around?"
"Little Sui invited us. He's paying us one yuan a day to help you.
Little Sui has really changed. The way he talks about you, those little eyes, even I envy you. What do people in the city say? Oh, 'gentle'!"
"Yes, 'gentle'. Wanwan, your hardship is over. Tell us, what trick did you use to turn him from a prodigal son?"
Lin Wanwan secretly cursed Xie Sui for wasting money. But her heart was still sweet. She hadn't felt this cared for in many years.
"It's just simple cleaning and peeling. Let's do it together."
Lin Wanwan wasn't foolish. She knew she couldn't let them know about boiling the peaches and steaming them into cans later. If she sold them all, how would they make money?
Meanwhile, Xie Sui arrived in town. Many people were out in the morning, and he sold his goods quickly. By late morning, he had sold everything.
His cart was stored at the supply and marketing cooperative. The salesclerk had gotten to know him well from buying so much sugar, and she helped him watch the cart, which didn't cause any trouble.
Xie Sui then went to Chen Qiang's place, his smiling face replaced by a stern expression.