Chapter 170

Chapter 170

"I'll go call Old Wang and organize the villagers. Let's try to get everything settled this afternoon so everyone can enter the mountains tomorrow." Captain Chen Zhuangshi put away the painting, his face beaming with joy.

Their brigade seemed to be thriving this year; everything they did was going well. At this rate, he might even have a chance at promotion!

Seeing his demeanor, Chen Jinhua felt both amused and exasperated. "Go do what you need to do. You don't need to tell us; I know you're in a hurry."

The captain rushed out, giving Chen Jinhua a quick smile without even responding to her.

Chen Jinhua shook her head, half laughing and half sighing. "Look at him? He’s been busy for days, not stopping for a moment."

She continued shaking her head as she spoke.

Soon, the brigade's loudspeaker came alive.

"Attention all villagers. Recently, many of you have been going into the mountains, but there are risks involved.

Therefore, the brigade has decided to organize a joint expedition with three villages.

We've invited Uncle Zhang from the village clinic to select some easily recognizable medicinal herbs and draw them into a diagram. Each family will send one man to join the expedition.

Additionally, we need women to help process the herbs back at the brigade.

Please take care of the elderly who live alone in the village.

The money earned from the expedition will be distributed equally among everyone. Please send a representative from your household to the brigade office as soon as possible."

The announcement was broadcast twice.

News spread quickly throughout the village.

In the courtyard of the Wang family, Wang Shoucheng was discussing plans with his sons about acquiring more grain from elsewhere.

Recently, due to Zhou Jiaojiao's thriving black market business, their grain supply was running low.

So acquiring more grain was urgent.

Before they could settle on a specific price, the loudspeaker announcement interrupted them.

Wang Shoucheng immediately looked troubled.

He almost lost his balance. "Laosan, did you hear that broadcast..."

"Dad, you heard right. The village is organizing an expedition into the mountains. Who from our family should go?" Wang Laosan was the least enthusiastic about going to the mountains.

If he could stay home and share the profits, why would he go?

"Who should go?" Wang Shoucheng's face darkened. This annoying situation—did his son not realize how much trouble it would cause?

Old Fifth's wife could find good herbs because the mountain people were scattered and unorganized. Now, with the brigade organizing a large group, what would be left?

If Old Fifth's wife went again, even if she found something, it wouldn't be as much as before.

Who was causing this trouble? They were cutting off the Wang family's source of income!

Wang Shoucheng felt a deep sense of frustration.

That was all the Wang family's money!

Was the brigade doing this for the villagers' benefit? It felt like they were taking the Wang family's money and distributing it to others.

Seeing his third son eagerly volunteering, Wang Shoucheng grew even angrier. "Why go?"

"Huh? We’re not going? Dad, the captain won’t be pleased. If we don’t participate, we might miss out on the share later."

Wang Laosi's pointed question made Wang Shoucheng fall silent.

No, not participating meant no benefits.

But participating?

After much deliberation, Wang Shoucheng pointed at Wang Laosan. "You’ll handle the herb drying in the village. Call your wife to help process the herbs.

Only you and Laosi’s family are free right now.

Laosi’s wife hasn’t fully recovered yet, so you two are perfect for the job."

Wang Laosan immediately looked miserable. "Dad, why don’t you let Laosi go to the mountains? I don’t mind my wife helping process the herbs, but I shouldn’t go."

Just stepping out of the house, Zhao Cuihua overheard her husband’s weak protest.

Fuming, she sneered. "What do you mean by not minding my help? Why should both of us go?"

Zhao Cuihua raised her voice in dissatisfaction, looking at her father-in-law Wang Shoucheng with no respect. "Dad, aren’t you being too biased?

What do you mean by Laosi’s wife not being fully recovered? I think my husband should go to the mountains, and Laosi’s wife should process the herbs.

Her condition makes her suitable for light work.

I earn the most labor points in the family. While I can’t compete with Old Fifth’s wife, I should at least be the first to rest!"

"How dare you speak to your father-in-law like that, Zhao Cuihua? Laosan, can’t you control your wife?

If you don’t, will she end up like your eldest sister-in-law?"

Wang Shoucheng shouted at him.

Wang Laosan looked gloomy, but he didn’t dare to assert himself over his wife. With Cuihua’s temper, if he really tried to control her now,

she might take the child and go back to her parents’ house tonight.

Seeing that he wasn’t responding, Wang Shoucheng was about to explode with anger. The confidence and sense of accomplishment he had found in his sons and daughters-in-law yesterday vanished instantly.

"Fine, fine, fine. I see you two don’t take me seriously. Since that’s the case, get out of here right now.

This family doesn’t need you two; you’ll leave with nothing! Also, your eldest brother contributed a lot to this family, and you benefited from it too.

You’ll have to shoulder part of those debts.

If you don’t listen, get out of here!"

When dealing with the third couple, Wang Shoucheng was firm.

The second son and Old Fifth’s couple preferred tangible benefits, while the third couple wanted actual profits.

As for the fourth couple, they just followed what others did.

Wang Shoucheng had long seen through his sons and daughters-in-law.

If it weren’t for the eldest son’s family causing trouble, the Wang family would still be under his control without any issues!

Zhao Cuihua fell silent when she heard that she and her husband would be leaving with nothing.

Although they were going to divide the family, she didn’t want it to happen this way.

Thinking quickly, Zhao Cuihua calmed down: "Dad, my husband and I will never leave the family; we still need to take care of you.

I just think you can’t make us do everything."

Seeing Zhao Cuihua become more compliant, Wang Shoucheng snorted, "Then let the fourth daughter-in-law go, and the third son, you go to the mountains."

Even though he had intimidated the third daughter-in-law, it was better not to involve her in this task.

"Third son, when you’re in the mountains, pretend not to see any medicinal herbs. We’re just there to blend in; don’t take it too seriously."

Wang Shoucheng instructed his son.

Everything in the mountains belonged to their Old Wang family!

The news that the village was going into the mountains spread throughout the entire brigade by the afternoon, with each of the three brigades having its own captain.

For Xiahe Village, the captain was Chen Zhuangshi.

Chen Zhuangshi had already selected the villagers, making the decision final.

Brigade.

Bai Xiuxiu packed her things and saw that the captain had come to wait for Aunt Jinhua. Looking at the sky, Wang Qinghe should also be coming to pick her up soon.

So she packed the children’s toys as well.

Soon, the sound of a bicycle could be heard outside, and Wang Qinghe entered the brigade from outside.