He would spoil her this way.
She was originally a very strong woman, but after being doted on by her man for this period, she seemed to be transforming into a crybaby.
Thinking of this, Jiang Qingqing immediately suppressed the urge to cry, calmed her mood, and said, "I'm not upset. Can you go out for a moment? The water is getting cold."
"Alright, I'll go out first and come back immediately. Don't carry the water, wait for me to come back to pour it." Zhang Liunian saw that she truly cared and didn't pester her. He let go of her, got up, and went out.
He still had to go borrow a tractor. After telling Zhang Xiaomei, who was with Huabao, he went out alone.
"Liunian, you're here? Please sit, is there something you need?" Village Party Secretary Zhang Hao had some distant relation to Zhang Liunian, but in name, they were still uncle and nephew.
Zhang Liunian still had to call him "Uncle" when he saw him.
"Uncle Hao, I'd like to borrow a tractor. I'll pay two yuan a day and don't need a driver; I can drive it myself." Zhang Liunian knew how to drive a tractor. He had learned along with Zhang Qian and Zhang Li when he signed up to learn, but he hadn't become a tractor driver later.
Zhang Hao closed the old, yellowed book in his hands and looked at Zhang Liunian with a smile, "Our tractor is idle right now. If you want to use it, take it. You don't need to pay."
"It's better to pay. That way, Uncle Hao, you can shut everyone up." Zhang Liunian would choose to pay for things that could be settled with money.
Zhang Hao's smile became even more radiant. His two sons were helping Zhang Liunian with work and earning wages every day, and their family's living standards were improving at a visible rate.
Zhang Liunian was a benefactor to them, and he hoped Zhang Liunian would expand his lobster business. Therefore, when he learned he needed to use a tractor, he genuinely wanted to give it to him for free.
But Zhang Liunian's consideration was not unreasonable. After all, the village was big, and anything could happen.
It wouldn't be good if it became a talking point. However, he had also heard that Zhang Liunian wanted the barren land behind his mud house, and he had already agreed.
According to Zhang Laoshi, he also wanted to pay for it. This child truly didn't want to take advantage of anyone. He was a good comrade.
"How about this, you don't need to pay for the barren land, but you can take some for the tractor. If you need any other help, feel free to ask Uncle."
Zhang Hao's words were sincere and heartfelt.
Zhang Liunian was thinking of hiring a few more people. Seeing Zhang Hao say that, he took the opportunity to say, "I'll be hiring a few more people tomorrow afternoon. Uncle, please help me inform those with difficult family conditions. I want to prioritize them."
"Really? That's great, that's great!" Zhang Hao was overjoyed to hear that he was hiring more people because he knew this meant Zhang Liunian's business was growing.
This was a good thing.
Especially for those in the village with difficult family conditions, it was a huge blessing. If they had job opportunities, even the least, one yuan for half a day was a considerable income, so he was genuinely happy for everyone.
"As for the barren land, I can't take it for free. Whatever you guys decide the price is, I'll pay."
Zhang Liunian didn't want to hear anyone say he was occupying village land. He didn't want to skip out on anything that could be settled with money.
"You don't have to do this?" Zhang Hao was truly impressed by Zhang Liunian this time. What a good comrade, not taking a single bit from the village, but instead benefiting the villagers. What a wonderful comrade.
They had misunderstood him deeply before, thinking he was lazy and not a good comrade. Now, it seemed they were completely wrong, terribly wrong. Zhang Liunian was an excellent comrade, not forgetting to give back to the village while earning money. He was deeply touched.
As Zhang Hao thought about it, his gaze towards Zhang Liunian became even more amiable.
Zhang Liunian met his gaze, feeling a little confused, but continued with the previous topic, "Uncle Hao, the barren land won't cost much. If I can afford it, I won't haggle."
"Alright, as you say. We discussed the barren land, and ten yuan will suffice. You can drive the tractor whenever you want."
"I'll need it tomorrow morning, so I'll come to drive it then."
"Alright."
"Here is the money for the barren land and the tractor fee for one week. Please keep it." Since both sides had agreed, the next step was to pay and get the proof. Zhang Liunian took out twenty-four yuan and placed it on the table.
Zhang Hao immediately began to write the proof.
Upon returning home, Huabao was already fast asleep, but Jiang Qingqing was sitting on the bed with the light on, making a small garment.
Zhang Liunian closed the door, took off his shoes, and sat beside her. He looked at his wife sewing baby clothes stitch by stitch, picked up a garment, and praised, "Qingqing, you're so skillful. This garment is beautifully made."
Jiang Qingqing's face flushed. She looked up at Zhang Liunian's clothes and said, "I make them well, but you don't wear them."
She was referring to the new clothes she had made for Zhang Liunian, which he hadn't worn.
Zhang Liunian put down the small garment and smiled, "I'm reluctant to. I might get them dirty while working."
"Clothes are made to be worn, not to be displayed at home. If they get dirty, they get dirty. We can just wash them."
"Qingqing is right. I'll wear them tomorrow then."
Jiang Qingqing smiled and continued her work with her head down. Zhang Liunian watched her for a moment, then suddenly remembered that he hadn't handed over today's income to his wife. He got up, took out the money, and gave it all to her.
"We earned over seven hundred yuan today, but we spent two hundred on ordering bricks, and roughly another fifty on other things. Now we only have five hundred yuan left."
Jiang Qingqing put down her needlework and, seeing the five hundred yuan in her hand, happily began to count, "One, two, three..."
After she finished counting, she beamed and put it into her wallet. As she did so, she said, "Liunian, we now have one thousand nine hundred yuan. That's almost enough to finish building our house.
This is too wonderful. Starting tomorrow, the money we earn will go towards our foreign debt of four thousand five hundred. At this rate, we can really pay off all our foreign debt in two weeks. What should we do? Thinking about it makes me so happy!"
The thought of their savings increasing made her unable to contain her joy. She hugged Zhang Liunian's arm tightly, tilted her head up, and looked at him with sparkling eyes.
Seeing her so happy, Zhang Liunian said dotingly, "You'll be even happier tomorrow, because our order volume is still increasing, and our daily income might break a thousand."
"Really? That's wonderful!" Jiang Qingqing was so happy to hear that her husband's business was growing and might break a thousand tomorrow that she burrowed into his arms.
Zhang Liunian hugged her in his arms, smiling broadly, "Of course, it's true."
"Liunian, you're amazing." Jiang Qingqing, thinking about tomorrow's income, was so excited that she impulsively kissed Zhang Liunian's handsome face, then quickly pulled away.
Zhang Liunian, realizing what had happened after a moment, reached up and touched the spot his wife had kissed. The curve of his lips widened, and he was overjoyed.
Jiang Qingqing, who had just launched a surprise attack, realized she had made a bold move after kissing him. Her face instantly turned red. She lowered her head and burrowed into his embrace, looking like she didn't want to be seen.