"Bah, what nonsense. You want to ruin our Brother Liunian's reputation, don't you? Why don't you take a look at how dark the groom's face is behind you!" Du Ziteng couldn't stand it any longer and pointed out directly, "You should look at that old man behind you before you speak. See if you can get away with it."
The smug Wu Guddi stiffened, then said nothing further, nor did she look at the old man behind her. He was just a tool, after all, and she didn't care what he thought.
She had already decided to leave that night. With the sky high and the emperor far away, she could do whatever she pleased.
"Rumble, rumble..." The tractor quickly overtook Wu Guddi, leaving a cloud of exhaust in its wake.
"Brother Liunian, she seems a bit off," Zhang Qian said, accelerating the tractor, but he was worried about Zhang Liunian.
Zhang Liunian didn't care. "Let her be!"
Zhang Qian heard that he wasn't concerned and said nothing more. After delivering the goods to the county town and earning a thousand yuan, he headed back.
Upon reaching the village entrance, Zhang Liunian asked Zhang Qian to let him off. He needed to find Zhang Hao to discuss some matters.
Zhang Qian and Du Ziteng, meanwhile, went to the educated youth dormitory to stir-fry crayfish. The two of them had become the main force for stir-frying crayfish, and all of Zhang Liunian's crayfish depended on them.
"Liunian's here! Come in and cool off. The weather's especially hot and stuffy today. Can you two who are out running around every day stand it?"
Zhang Hao, who was resting with a fan, got up from his reclining chair as soon as he saw Zhang Liunian approaching and moved a stool for him near his electric fan.
Zhang Liunian smiled and sat by the fan, finding the whirring sound of the old-fashioned fan particularly familiar. He hadn't heard such a sound in a long time.
In his previous life, the first time he heard a fan was at his second brother's house.
And his Qingqing had never enjoyed one. This time, once the new house was built, he was determined to equip their home with a television and an electric fan.
Fortunately, there wasn't much time left; about a month should be enough.
"I'm used to being out in the sun every day, so it doesn't feel like much. But today's weather is indeed much stuffier than usual. It might rain heavily this afternoon or evening," Zhang Liunian observed the hot weather outside, secretly planning to buy a few umbrellas when he went to Nancheng, just in case.
"Young people have strong bodies, unlike us. After working in the fields all morning, my head is already spinning. I'm truly getting old." Zhang Hao fanned himself with a palm fan, acting as if he were an elder.
Zhang Liunian twitched his lips. Zhang Hao wasn't even fifty yet, how had he become an elder?
But the temperature was indeed very high today, and it was truly uncomfortable to be out in the sun for too long.
"Uncle Hao, you're still young!"
"I really am old. I hope that when I retire, I can see everyone living a good life. Then I'll be at peace." Zhang Hao waved his palm fan, looking at Zhang Liunian expectantly, as if to say, all our good days might depend on you.
However, the look flashed by, and it didn't put too much pressure on Zhang Liunian.
Zhang Hao ultimately had his limits and didn't want to burden Zhang Liunian.
Zhang Liunian, on the other hand, didn't mind because he was very confident and firmly believed that his factory would be successful.
Therefore, there was no pressure or lack thereof.
"Uncle Hao, I've come over today because I might need your help with two things. The first is that I want to allocate a piece of land from the village to build a factory, but not right now. It will be after my house is built.
I want the location to be closer to the main road at the village entrance, for convenience in transportation. Second, I currently need ten people. The same as last time, prioritize those from struggling families.
The wages will also be the same as everyone else: one yuan and fifty cents for half a day's work, and three yuan for a full day.
These ten people will be my future factory employees. Once the factory is built, they will become formal staff."
After Zhang Liunian stated his purpose, Zhang Hao immediately sat up as if re-energized, his face beaming with joy. "Really? You need more people?"
"Yes," Zhang Liunian nodded seriously, indicating he was not joking.
Zhang Hao happily stomped his feet, patting his palm fan. "You want to allocate land to build a factory, right? We have several empty plots at the village entrance, you can choose any you like. Build it as big as you want. Tomorrow, I'll bring people to help you look and measure the area.
As for the manpower you mentioned, I'll announce it this afternoon. However, there aren't three households that are in dire straits right now; others are more or less the same. So, we might have to draw lots. You should be prepared.
When would you be free? I'll arrange for the villagers to come over."
"This afternoon, after I return from Nancheng!" he would then arrange for some of them to make crayfish sauce and others to prepare initial ingredients.
"Okay," Zhang Hao was so excited he wished he could start publicizing it immediately.
Seeing his excitement, Zhang Liunian didn't linger. He got up to leave but suddenly remembered his younger sister's matter and added, "Uncle Hao, my younger sister and Dumb are getting married at the beginning of the month. You're all invited to drink at the educated youth dormitory.
Oh, and I was thinking that since my sister and Dumb don't have a house to live in, I want to help her buy a plot of land and lend them money to build a house.
Can you find a suitable spot near my house so that my sister and I can look out for each other?"
"Is your younger sister really marrying Dumb?" When Zhang Wenxue's parents had caused trouble last time, they had heard some hints, but since Zhang Liunian and his family hadn't spoken about it themselves, they could only keep it in their hearts.
Now that Zhang Liunian had finally spoken, there was no turning back.
However, that child Dumb was indeed alright, but if his elder brother heard about this, he might come to cause trouble.
But thinking of Zhang Liunian's combat prowess, he was sure he wouldn't dare to make too much of a scene.
If that wasn't enough, they were still there, so they wouldn't let Zhang Liunian suffer.
"The date is set, there's no mistake." While saying this, Zhang Liunian's heart was telling him that he should probably confirm with Dumb later.
Also, after they moved, he would need to prepare some cabinets, boxes, quilts, and other items as his sister's dowry.
He didn't know if their parents would help, but as the third brother, he would definitely take care of it.
"Dumb's character is good, but without the support of brothers and parents, he's a bit weak on his own," Zhang Hao calmly analyzed Dumb's circumstances.
Zhang Liunian smiled. "Having me to support him is enough. He doesn't need his lifelong burden of an elder brother interfering. It's best if he doesn't bother with Dumb. If he does, I won't be polite. Now that he's my soon-to-be brother-in-law, I certainly won't stand by and do nothing."
Zhang Hao was stunned for a moment, then slapped his forehead with his palm fan and laughed heartily, "Isn't that right? Having you to support them is enough. As long as they follow you, they will live a good life. What need do they have for brothers and parents? Someone like him is just perfect, absolutely perfect."
Zhang Hao thought about it carefully and realized, wasn't that the case? Having a brother as caring as Zhang Liunian, what further support from brothers or parents was needed?