Cicada shells, also known as cicada exoskeletons, are a type of traditional Chinese medicine. The villagers all knew this, but back then, unlike later times, there weren't people specifically going door-to-door to collect them. If you found some, there was nowhere to sell them, so who would waste the effort?
In his previous life, Xie Sui had been involved in the trade of Chinese medicinal materials. His large pharmaceutical factories, spread across the country, were among his most profitable ventures.
Now, he was busy with the canned food business. It wasn't yet time to get into the medicinal materials trade. It would be better to let his son get some practice first.
The season hadn't yet reached midsummer, when cicadas molt in large numbers. However, there were still a small quantity. It was most suitable for children to collect them and sell them for money.
Two cents each was already a high price. Adults would be tempted if they knew.
Xie Sui hadn't yet inquired about the current market prices. In his past life, they had soared to over a thousand yuan per jin. It shouldn't be too cheap.
After lunch, Xie Sui asked Lin Wanwan and the children to take a nap. He went to the Chen family, the family of his friend Zhang Wenfeng, to whom he had sold shirts. Zhang Wenfeng owned a mule, and he wanted to borrow it.
"Wenfeng, are you home?"
Xie Sui peeked in and saw Zhang Wenfeng squatting in a corner, fiddling with something in his hands, his face looking like he was constipated.
Seeing Xie Sui, he immediately hid it behind his back. "What are you doing here?"
"What are you hiding? Could it be your wife's underwear?"
"How did you know?"
Zhang Wenfeng's dark face flushed, and he felt like dying of shame.
"No way? It's true? I was just saying it."
Xie Sui couldn't help but want to laugh. He had just been speaking casually and hadn't expected to be right. It was like he had a crow's beak.
"If you're washing it, then wash it. It's only right for a man to wash his wife's underwear. It's a matter of pride."
Xie Sui didn't dare to joke further. Zhang Wenfeng was getting angry, and it was related to borrowing the mule cart. He had to appease him.
"Really? Do you wash yours for your wife too?"
Zhang Wenfeng's expression improved slightly. He didn't want to wash them; it was embarrassing. But his wife said he wouldn't be allowed on the bed if he didn't. They were a young newlywed couple, and they were very attached. Not being able to get on the bed was unbearable.
So, he had to wash them secretly when the family was asleep.
If everyone was embarrassed together, it wouldn't be so embarrassing. They were kindred spirits.
Xie Sui thought to himself, "I don't have such good treatment. I can't even touch the edges of her underwear."
He couldn't be soft-spoken. "Of course. Let me tell you something."
"No, you go away. My dad said you have too many tricks up your sleeve. He said if you trick me, I'll still help you count the money, and he told me not to play with you."
Xie Sui: "..."
What kind of talk was that? Was he that capable?
"Don't be like that. I treat you like my own brother. I wouldn't trick you."
"My dad said you specifically trick your brothers."
Damn it, the conversation was dying here.
"You're wrongly accusing me. When have I ever tricked you? Speak with a clear conscience."
Zhang Wenfeng complained, "It's that shirt you sold me. I look terrible wearing it. Everyone says I look like a black bear pretending to be human. It was a waste of my five yuan."
"How about you take it back, and I'll help you with your favor?"
Zhang Wenfeng's eyes rolled. He still wanted to scheme against Xie Sui.
Xie Sui found it amusing. With his limited intelligence, it was difficult for him to come up with this idea. He put his arm around his shoulder and said, "Brother, you don't understand.
Who said that shirt was for you to wear? Wouldn't you give it to your sister-in-law?"
"It's so big, my wife can't possibly wear it. Are you tricking me again?"
Xie Sui whispered conspiratorially, "Look at you, you have little experience. You don't let her wear it when she goes out. But at night, when you two are doing... you know, think about what she would look like wearing it? With the collar undone, half-revealed, you understand?"
The "uniform temptation" from his past life was already played out. This was a rare novelty now.
Zhang Wenfeng imagined the scene. He sniffled shamelessly. Even in broad daylight, he felt a heat wave rush through him. He grinned foolishly. "Of course. What did you need me for?"
"To borrow your mule cart."
"No way." Zhang Wenfeng shook his head like a rattle drum. "That mule is more important to me than I am. My dad would beat me to death if he knew.
Let me put it this way: if I die, my dad might not cry. But if my mule dies, my dad would cry his eyes out."
Xie Sui: "..."
What a simpleton. How could he talk about himself like that?
Large livestock were extremely important assets to a family. It took years of savings to afford one, like a private car. Without a life-or-death friendship, no one would lend it.
"I'll rent it. I'll pay. You can supervise me, and I'll still give you money for it. Two yuan for the trip, how about that?"
"I'll have to discuss this with my dad."
Just borrowing it was impossible; his father would beat him to death. But renting it was different. Two yuan wasn't a small sum.
After chatting for a while and strengthening their bond, Zhang Wenfeng took out the underwear to wash again. Xie Sui glanced at it. Damn, it was bright red.
It was an eyesore. Xie Sui regretted being so nosy. Why did he have to look again?
Judging by the size, it was a large size, which made him unable to bear looking any further.
"It's settled then. I'm leaving. Probably the day after tomorrow. It will take one day, two yuan, and I'll cover two meals for you and the mule."
"Alright!"
After Xie Sui had gone some distance, Zhang Wenfeng came back to his senses and said, "Damn it, he treated me like a mule!"
Xie Sui returned home. Lin Wanwan was already up and busy making canned food. With a way to earn money, she wanted to seize every opportunity to make money.
Many people weren't lazy; they lacked opportunities to earn money. They had strength but no place to use it, or they exerted great effort and earned very little. Their effort and reward were not equal.
"Wife, you should rest for a while. I'll do this work."
"No need, I'm not tired."
Watching Lin Wanwan squatting and washing peaches, her round buttocks, made Xie Sui feel the temperature in the air rise. He swallowed and looked away. Apart from that one accidental time, he didn't seem to have "played cards" properly with his wife.
He couldn't help but slap himself. "Why was I so foolish not to enjoy such a beautiful woman?"
"What are you being crazy about!"
Lin Wanwan was startled by him, hitting himself for no reason.
"Mosquito, I'll help."
With men and women working together, the work wasn't tiring. The remaining peaches were finished, and over fifty bottles were neatly packed. Tomorrow morning, they would go to the next village to exchange them for grain.
"We don't have much money. Tomorrow we need to buy white sugar. If they send peaches, we'll have to pay them. That grain..."
"Leave it to me to figure out. We can manage for another two days. It's fine.
Wife, you stay home tomorrow. I'll go exchange for canned food myself. Someone needs to stay home to receive peaches and make canned food. This way, the efficiency will be faster."
"Okay, that's what I was thinking too."
Discussing and cooperating, working together – this was the life Lin Wanwan wanted most.
"Mom, I need to pee."
"Mom, I need to poop!"
The two little ones slept until mid-afternoon. When they woke up, they looked for their mother.
"Come, you're all boys. You should find dad. Why are you looking for mom? Dad will go with you to poop."
Xie Sui eagerly took the initiative to care for the little ones. After speaking, he felt something was off. Lin Wanwan laughed. Dad pooping?