Chapter 56: Struck It Rich

Chapter 56: Struck It Rich

This time, Feng Chen and Tang Yuan brought so many wild yams that Shan Xuejun was stunned.

He had been in charge of herbal acquisitions for nearly a decade, but this was the first time he had seen someone bring in so many wild yams at once.

Others usually brought just a few pounds, or at most twenty to thirty pounds, but they had brought five hundred pounds!

Good heavens, this young couple is going to make a fortune today!

Seeing how surprised Shan Xuejun was, Tang Yuan gestured him to look at the giant yam, "Brother Shan, this one must be several decades old. It's much larger than the others and surely has better medicinal properties. Shouldn't it be sold to someone who needs it more?"

Who needs it more?

Of course, those who have the money and are willing to spend it!

Shan Xuejun almost dropped his jaw looking at the enormous yam king!

In his over thirty years of life, he had never seen such a large wild yam!

Wow, it weighs a full hundred pounds!

Even if you scrape off the dirt from the crevices, it wouldn't weigh less than ninety-eight pounds, right?

He understood Tang Yuan's implication and nodded, "Yes, something of this quality should definitely fetch two cents more per pound."

In these times, raising prices by even two cents is no small feat; it requires government approval.

Of course, this yam king should be sold to someone who appreciates its value. Using it as ordinary medicine would be a waste.

After admiring the yam king, Shan Xuejun said, "Wait a moment, I'll go get the director to take a look."

Shan Xuejun went to find Director Jiang, the deputy director of the County Hospital, who oversees medical equipment and herbal acquisitions.

She often requests top-quality herbs, which she uses herself and gives as gifts after processing them.

She pays great attention to health, especially her husband's, who is the deputy head of the county Revolutionary Committee. She hopes he remains healthy and energetic in his work.

Wild yams not only nourish the stomach but also replenish blood and qi. Regular consumption can prolong life and enhance vitality.

The Jiang family eats wild yams as frequently as farmers eat sweet potatoes.

Naturally, good things should be taken to her.

If not, she might be displeased when she finds out.

Soon, Tang Yuan saw a woman around forty come over with Shan Xuejun, presumably Director Jiang.

Director Jiang is of medium height, with fair skin that has a rosy glow, indicating good health. Her figure is neither too thin nor too heavy, and her back is straight. Her hair is neatly tied into a bun at the back, without a single strand out of place.

Her voice was strong and clear, "I heard you dug up a yam king? Show me quickly. Which brigade? Which mountain?"

She asked a series of questions in rapid succession.

Tang Yuan played the role of a shy country girl and gave vague answers about the specific location.

Feng Chen brought the yam king over for Director Jiang to see. He did not become any warmer despite her position, remaining as aloof as ever.

After setting down the yam, he went to help weigh the rest of the yams.

Jiang Xiumin was speechless upon seeing the massive yam king, unable to speak for a while.

She reached out to touch it, marveling, "It's really impressive."

Seeing how much she liked it, Tang Yuan thought the price wouldn't be low.

Jiang Xiumin decided immediately to buy the yam. She glanced at Shan Xuejun.

Shan Xuejun, being a perceptive person, understood Director Jiang's thoughts and introduced them quietly, "These are the nephew and niece-in-law of Accountant Feng."

Jiang Xiumin nodded slightly. Since they were related to an internal staff member, she couldn't use the regular acquisition price for commune members.

The government-set price for dried medicinal yam slices is 1.58 yuan per pound, selling at 2.40 yuan.

They acquire fresh yams from commune members because ordinary people don't process herbs; the hospital has a dedicated department for that.

Two pounds of fresh yams yield one pound of dried yams. They pay between eighteen to twenty-two cents per pound for fresh yams.

Shan Xuejun hinted that Accountant Feng dotes on his nephew and gave him the internal acquisition price, without taking a cut.

So, would she need to pay seventy-nine cents per pound for these wild yams?

This wild yam weighs a hundred pounds, so it would cost nearly eighty yuan.

Though she wasn't short of money, paying so much at once was a bit painful.

Shan Xuejun gave Tang Yuan a meaningful look, urging her to ask for a higher price from Director Jiang.

Tang Yuan understood immediately and put on a worried expression, whispering, "Brother Shan, my grandmother is sick, and my second brother still needs dowry money for marriage. A few days ago, my little sister fell off a cliff while gathering herbs and got injured. My nephew also needs school fees..."

She was no longer the clever fish spirit but a naive country girl who spoke her mind.

She lowered her head, pretending to sniffle, "This is the yam king, shouldn't it be more expensive than the others at seventy-nine cents per pound? We need a lot of money..."

Hmph, our family is poor and desperate. Don't try to haggle the price down.

If you offer too little, we'll sell it to someone else.

Jiang Xiumin, who had initially planned to haggle, looked at her for a moment and asked with what she thought was patience, "Young lady, how much do you want per pound?"

Tang Yuan slightly lowered her head, looking shy and timid, and said softly, "One yuan per catty... not expensive, right?"

She didn't need to beg Director Jiang for favors, so there was no need to curry favor with her.

As for Uncle Feng?

Uncle Feng's position as an accountant wasn't given by Director Jiang. He had been stable in this role for many years and wouldn't be affected by a single yam.

One yuan?

This country girl sure dared to ask for a lot!

Could it be that Accountant Feng taught her?

She smiled. If it were an ordinary member, they would be grateful even if she offered them twenty fen per catty.

After all, earning some cash was too difficult for them; ten yuan was already a large sum.

If they didn't sell to her and tried to sell elsewhere, such a big thing would draw attention, and she could easily have them caught for speculation. That would be enough trouble for them.

However, since they were relatives of Accountant Feng, she couldn't use such tactics.

Jiang Xiumin's mind was active, but she maintained the demeanor of a director on her face. She certainly wouldn't let a country girl think she was being petty.

She agreed readily, "One yuan it is. If you find more big yams, bring them to me; I'll take them."

Tang Yuan immediately pointed to a pile of yams resembling a small hill beside her and said, almost like presenting a treasure, "Director, these were dug up along with the yam king. They must be its children. Would you want these at eighty fen per catty?"

She had considered it. It wasn't practical for her and Feng Chen to go out and sell the yams themselves; it would draw too much attention.

They could only sell to specific groups who could afford it, such as officials from the Revolutionary Committee, the hospital, the supply and marketing cooperative, and large factories. Ordinary people wouldn't spend so much money on wild yams.

Director Jiang glanced at them and said she wanted some too.

Of course, she wanted the best ones, and the rest would be processed into yam slices for the hospital.

Not wanting to bother others further, Tang Yuan asked if they wanted the yam beans as well.

Yam beans nourish the lungs and stomach, treat excessive phlegm and coughs, moisturize the skin, and boost immunity.

They were good things, so they deserved a good price.

Director Jiang thought for a moment and said, "I'll take them all."

The yam beans could be given as welfare to the staff.

Tang Yuan had Feng Chen set aside about ten pounds of yam beans and yams for Uncle Feng's family to eat, and sold the rest to the County Hospital.

Originally, according to the quota set by Uncle Feng, these yams would have fetched at most a hundred catties, far from the five hundred catties of yams and two hundred catties of yam beans.

But since Director Jiang liked them, the yams were exceptional, and she made an exception to purchase them. After processing, they could be sent to other cities.

Of course, she would give the best ones as gifts to leaders for daily consumption to nourish their bodies.

Shan Xuejun signed the invoice, which amounted to over 620 yuan!

On the way here, Tang Yuan and Feng Chen had calculated several times, but they hadn't expected the yam king to fetch one yuan per catty.

Ha ha, they had really struck it rich!

It would be great if they could dig wild yams every year!

Unfortunately, it was just wishful thinking.

They had dug up all the yams that had grown for so many years. The next time would probably be at least five years away.

So they still needed to cultivate them artificially. Although the unit price would be lower, the quantity would be stable.

As long as they kept replanting, they could sell yams every year.

Of course, she needed to negotiate a long-term supply agreement with the hospital.

But not yet; their relationship wasn't strong enough.

When Shan Xuejun saw the cart full of yams, he knew the couple was going to make a fortune. Still, seeing the invoice was quite impactful.

He was also very envious!

Was collecting herbs so profitable?

His monthly salary and allowance were only forty-two yuan!

But he quickly calmed down. For so many years, only Feng Chen and Tang Yuan had brought such a large amount of yams once.

Who knows when they would bring more.

Besides, collecting herbs was dangerous. One misstep could lead to falling off a cliff, either dead or severely injured. Scary.

Realizing this, he sincerely congratulated them. To make money from collecting herbs required both luck to find them and the ability to endure hardship.

Tang Yuan: "Thanks for the auspicious words, Brother Shan. I hope we can collect good herbs in the future."

She gave half of the reserved yam beans and yams to Shan Xuejun.

This time, Shan Xuejun accepted without refusing.

According to the earlier prices, these were worth about five yuan!

Shan Xuejun was very satisfied.

These days, any employee with a bit of power doesn't refuse perks.

Although the young couple didn't send cigarettes or alcohol to him, sending smoked meat and yams is also good, after all, even Dean Jiang values these items.

Tang Yuan held the slip, while Feng Chen carried the remaining yams, and the two went to the accounting office to find Uncle Feng.

Since August, the hospital has also entered the peak season for purchasing herbs, along with various squads coming to settle accounts, so Uncle Feng has been quite busy.

Today, he didn't go to the herb acquisition area to look for his nephew, knowing they would come over with the slip, so he stayed in the accounting office, working and waiting.

Sure enough, by evening, the two arrived, carrying a bundle of yams and a bag of yam beans.

Uncle Feng gestured for them to help themselves to water, casually asked how Grandma Feng was doing, and then said, "Why not sell everything? Why bring it to me?"

He felt that it wasn't easy for his nephew to gather herbs in the mountains, and it was best to exchange what he gathered for money right away, without wasting anything.

Even if given to him, he wouldn't feel at ease eating it.

Feng Chen only responded that Grandma Feng was well and then fell silent.

Tang Yuan nudged him gently, prompting him to continue: "Uncle, we dug up a lot of wild yams this time. We kept some for seeds and a bit for Grandma to eat. These are for you to try."

Uncle Feng got up to take a look, nodded, and praised, "These are really good yams. What grade did Xiao Shan give you?"

Feng Chen replied, "The best ones were bought by the dean; the rest were graded as top-tier."

Uncle Feng smiled and nodded, saying, "Xiao Shan is a good person; split these yams with him."

Feng Chen responded, "We already gave him half."

Uncle Feng himself didn't want to eat the wild yams his nephew had gathered, but he agreed when he heard they were given to Shan Xuejun.

Giving gifts to relevant personnel is necessary; otherwise, they wouldn't be as diligent in helping you.

After a brief chat, Uncle Feng also inquired about Tang Yuan's parents.

Tang Yuan answered with a smile.

She had a good impression of Uncle Feng. He was grateful to his widowed mother and younger brother who supported his education, and now that he had made something of himself, he knew to help his nephew.

Even when Feng Chen was seen as aimless, Uncle Feng never looked down on him. Now that his nephew knew how to hunt and gather herbs, he was just as pleased as a father would be.

Tang Yuan could see that Uncle Feng genuinely cared for Feng Chen.

In this world, there are many ungrateful people who, despite being supported by their families, complain that they haven't received enough and distance themselves once they succeed.

Compared to them, Uncle Feng was truly kind and heartwarming.

She recalled what Shan Xuejun had said about the insider information on herb prices. Uncle Feng hadn't taken a cut from Feng Chen, but his wife might have an issue with it.

She proactively told Uncle Feng, "Uncle, in the past, we gathered small amounts of herbs, which weren't worth calculating a commission. This time, we sold a large quantity, and the amount is significant. We both feel that we should give you a commission, and Grandma agrees."

It's better to be clear about finances among close relatives to avoid misunderstandings.

Even if Uncle Feng didn't care, his wife certainly would.

If Uncle Feng didn't care now, would he care later if they earned more?

Money moves hearts; it's just that the amount wasn't big enough yet.

As they grow their own yams and herbs in the future, the amounts will increase, and Uncle Feng might be tempted.

To prevent future conflicts, it's best to clarify things now.

Uncle Feng waved his hand, "What commission? You're taking care of my mother for me; I haven't paid you either."

Tang Yuan responded, "Uncle, let's keep things separate. Grandma is our grandma too."

Uncle Feng tried to assert his authority as an elder, insisting that everything should be done according to his wishes. Then he saw the settlement slip Tang Yuan pushed over.

What?

628.4 yuan?

No mistake?

He picked up the slip and moved closer to the lamp, confirming it was real.

He looked at them in surprise, "So much?"

Feng Chen remained calm, speaking only when Tang Yuan needed him to.

In his previous life, he didn't like talking much, and after living alone for three years, he had become accustomed to silence before his death.

Tang Yuan reassured him, "Uncle, please don't worry. Feng Chen and I can support ourselves and Grandma."

Uncle Feng was stunned for a moment before smiling, "Good, good. Feng Chen is making progress now. Your parents would be happy to know this."

For a nephew living in the countryside, farming and supporting the family is considered a great achievement.

He still refused to accept a commission.

He only provided 600 jin of quota to Feng Chen annually, and today's yams and yam beans amounted to nearly 700 jin, clearly exceeding his quota.

What commission could he take from the extra sales?

As for the 600 jin quota he provided, it wasn't much, so why take a commission from it?

That quota itself was meant to support his nephew's livelihood.

He had been an accountant for many years, and his salary had been steadily increasing with his tenure; now it had risen to 68 yuan.

With this salary, his family lived quite comfortably.

All along, he gave his mother five yuan every month and another five to his nephew. However, after the nephew turned fifteen and still showed no sense of responsibility, refusing to work diligently to support himself, Yang Shujuan forbade giving him any more money to prevent making Feng Chen lazy and unwilling to stand on his own.

So, he saved that five yuan, intending to give it to his nephew when he got married.

He didn't lack money and didn't want to share it with his nephew.

If Feng Chen were still running around the city every day, mixing with unsavory people, he might have feared his nephew going astray and would have kept this large sum safe for him.

But now that Feng Chen had matured and was engaged, knowing how to work hard and support his family, he naturally felt relieved and wasn't worried about his nephew misusing money. Therefore, he wouldn't manage the money for him.

His wife would take care of that.

Seeing that he really didn't want it, Feng Chen secretly pinched Tang Yuan's waist, signaling her to let Uncle Feng keep it if he wanted.

To be honest, if he had to give Uncle Feng a thirty percent commission, he would feel quite the pinch.

Earning money to support his grandmother and wife was natural, and he wouldn't mind how much they spent. But giving money to Uncle Feng and Aunt Feng?

That made him feel a bit uneasy.

Even if Uncle Feng gave him a quota of six hundred pounds of herbs per year, wasn't he still supporting Uncle Feng's mother?

He had no affection for the original owner's uncle.

In the past, when other teams came to settle accounts, if the amount exceeded five hundred yuan, they had to wait for the hospital to reimburse them from other pharmacies or hospitals before getting their money.

Uncle Feng took charge and approved their settlement slip, paying them immediately.

He did have that small authority.

Looking at the thick stack of money, Uncle Feng was still a bit worried and said, "Stay at my place tonight, and tomorrow I'll take you to the bank to open an account and deposit the money."

No!

Feng Chen mentally refused.

The environment of his previous life made him reject all financial institutions because he didn't trust them!

What if the money disappeared in the bank?

It must be locked up at home!

This way, Tang Yuan could occasionally take it out to count for fun. He loved watching her count money, her face lighting up with a lively smile.

Tang Yuan agreed, "Yes, it's safer in the bank. If we keep it at home, what if thieves come or rats chew on it? That would be troublesome."

She turned to look at Feng Chen.

Feng Chen nodded, "Sounds good."

As soon as his wife suggested depositing the money in the bank, Feng Chen immediately thought it was a great idea.

His wife knew so much; whatever she said must be right.

However, Tang Yuan didn't want to stay at Uncle Feng's house.

Mainly because Aunt Feng didn't like Feng Chen and would surely give him a hard time.

When they had no money, they had to endure Aunt Feng's attitude, but now that they had money, why should they put themselves through that?

Ninety percent of the world's conflicts arise from poverty, and money can solve most problems.

Of course, money can also create many issues, so one shouldn't flaunt wealth.

Apart from telling Grandma Feng, she wouldn't tell anyone else, including her parents. She mainly feared that if Old Tang needed money and her father found out she had some, he might lose his head.

Uncle Feng clearly thought of this issue too and advised them not to tell others how much they earned from collecting herbs.

"It's hard-earned money; there's nothing for others to envy."

Compared to the prices paid to other members, there was indeed nothing to envy.

Tang Yuan: "Uncle, could you get us a note to stay at a nearby guesthouse for the night?"

Using the team's introduction letter would work, but a note from the hospital would save a few yuan.

Just like ordinary people today who think a hotel room over three hundred yuan is expensive and prefer rooms under two hundred, taking a taxi costing less than thirty yuan is acceptable, but once it exceeds forty or fifty, it feels pricey, and they'd rather take the subway or bus.

Salary-earning workers are always so meticulous with their expenses. Real life isn't like a romance novel where true feelings matter more than money.

Not only would an internal note save money, but she also planned to book just one room. Hehe.

Of course, booking one room wouldn't lead to anything. At most, she might try to seduce Feng Chen, but he would simply restrain her hands and feet.

His self-control was the strongest in the world!

As soon as she had these naughty thoughts, she gave Feng Chen a cheeky look, letting him interpret it himself.

Feng Chen understood instantly, his ears slowly turning red from her playful teasing.

Tang Yuan asked Feng Chen to keep the money safe and deposit it in the bank tomorrow.

Letting Feng Chen manage the money was very secure; he wouldn't lose a single cent.

Uncle Feng was taking the young couple home for dinner. He locked the door and greeted his neighbor before leading them away.

The wooden cart would be left at the hospital; they could retrieve it tomorrow when they leave.

On the way, Uncle Feng first took them to the guesthouse to check in.

Leaving the guesthouse, Tang Yuan saw a state-owned restaurant nearby. It was bustling with people during dinnertime, and there was a window selling roast chicken next to it.

She really wanted to treat Uncle Feng's family to a meal, but they didn't have food or meat tickets.

Uncle Feng thought she wanted roast chicken and said gently, "Let's go home and get the meat tickets first."

All the tickets were kept by Yang Shujuan.

Tang Yuan shook her head and smiled, "Uncle, I'm not craving it. I just want to buy one to take back for Auntie and the others."

After all, Feng Chen used to live with Uncle Feng, so it was only right to show some gratitude.

Unfortunately, country folks don't have tickets.

Uncle Feng was pleased with her thoughtfulness and filial piety. "Haha, no need. Your intentions are enough. If you want roast chicken, I'll buy it."

Tang Yuan chatted with Uncle Feng as they walked home, giving Feng Chen a meaningful glance.

Go ask if they can buy a ticket-free chicken by paying extra money.

If there are defective fabrics for sale, why can't there be lame chickens?

Maybe the chicken has a broken leg or wing?

It doesn't hurt to ask; they won't lose anything.

Yang Shujuan worked at the train station. Apart from working night shifts every few days, everything else was fine.

Recently, Old Feng had been busy, so she made sure to finish work on time to buy groceries and cook dinner.

Her eldest son, who graduated from a technical school, worked at his father's hospital and was now learning to diagnose and prescribe under an experienced doctor. He recently signed up for the County Hospital's medical outreach program, which would help him gain experience and advance his career.

Her youngest daughter had just entered high school and spent most of her time playing with the daughter of Dean Jiang. She hadn't come home yet.

When the men and children weren't home, she ate something simple. Old Feng would eat at the canteen if he worked late, or she would make instant noodles when he returned.

As she was eating dry rations soaked in hot water with pickles, she heard Old Feng return, seemingly with guests.

She quickly got up and turned on the yard light, seeing Old Feng and a young, tall girl walking in.

The young girl looked very happy and seemed close to Old Feng.

Yang Shujuan frowned, "Old Feng, why are you back so early today? Oh, who is this girl?"

Uncle Feng immediately introduced them.

"This is Feng Chen's fiancée, Tang Yuan. I mentioned her to you before."

Yang Shujuan smiled, "Yuan Yuan, right? Welcome, come in."

Uncle Feng added, "These two kids brought us some smoked meat last time. I told them not to bring us things since the city has everything, but this time they brought these yams, insisting we eat them instead of selling them all to the hospital."

Yang Shujuan glanced at the bundle of yams wrapped in newspaper and another bag of yam beans.

If someone else had given them, she would have been delighted and praised the good yams, but since it was from Feng Chen, she felt wary.

Was Feng Chen giving yams to ask for more favors?

Had Old Feng secretly given him money again?

She peeked outside, "Where's Feng Chen?"

Mentioning Feng Chen made her smile fade.

Uncle Feng laughed, "He ran into an acquaintance and went to greet them."

That was just an excuse from Feng Chen.

Yang Shujuan's face darkened, instinctively thinking Feng Chen was still hanging out with those unsavory people. Recalling how she and Old Feng had to bail him out from the police station, she grew angry.

Uncle Feng had already invited Tang Yuan inside and was talking about the delicious smoked meat they had brought last time.

Tang Yuan smiled, "Uncle, next time we hunt, we'll bring some more."

Yang Shujuan was annoyed. Old Feng always praised whatever his nephew and his mother gave, even if it was something as small as a needle, making it sound like a huge favor.

She said, "Old Feng, I thought you'd be eating at the canteen, so I just had some dry rations myself. There's nothing left."

Uncle Feng replied, "Then let's make some instant noodles and fry a couple of eggs for the kids."

He went to the drawer to find meat tickets, wanting to buy roast chicken for Tang Yuan.

Yang Shujuan became even angrier. They only had two pounds of instant noodles, meant for him and their daughter.

Feng Chen's bottomless stomach would probably finish it all in one meal.

She said, "How would you know about our food situation with your long hours? We overspent on fine grains last month and had to cut back this month. There are no instant noodles left." She paused, "Hey, what are you looking for? The meat tickets are gone. Feng Yi took them to treat her classmates."

Uncle Feng sighed and his face stiffened, "Well, then just make do with whatever we have for the kids."

Tang Yuan quickly said, "Uncle, Auntie, don't worry about it. I just came to familiarize myself with the place."

To Yang Shujuan, this sounded like Tang Yuan was here to ask for a red envelope. She assumed Tang Yuan and Feng Chen were engaged, and she and Uncle Feng should give them red envelopes.

She was also worried that Tang Yuan would come over frequently to take advantage of their hospitality.

That wouldn't do at all.

Uncle Feng's expression turned sour.

As he rolled up his sleeves, he adjusted his expression and said to Tang Yuan, "Yuan Yuan, sit down and have some water. I'll make you a yam porridge. I still have some smoked meat; it won't take long. Back when I was studying, I couldn't afford food coupons, so I brought my own rations and cooked for myself. My cooking skills are pretty good." He turned to Yang Shujuan with a smile, "Right, Shujuan?"

Yang Shujuan realized she had been too stern and forced a smile, "Alright, you must be tired from working overtime. Let me cook instead."

At that moment, Feng Chen arrived as well.

The aroma of roasted chicken wafted in with him!

Tang Yuan happily took the chicken, "You got it?"

Feng Chen nodded, "Yes, I told the waitress I'd pay for her food coupons, and she sold them to me."

Tang Yuan chuckled inwardly. Oh, he used his charm.

If he were ugly, would the waitress sell to him? She'd probably just roll her eyes and tell him to get lost.

If she could sell her food coupons so easily, how many coupons does she have to sell?

Yang Shujuan was stunned. Feng Chen bought roasted chicken for them to eat?

Wow, is the sun rising from the west?

He used to only come to take advantage, but this time he brought something.

Wait, could it be that he has an even bigger request?

Is he hoping Uncle Feng will arrange a job for him in the city?

She was now more convinced than ever that Uncle Feng was subsidizing his nephew with money! The money for the roasted chicken must have come from Uncle Feng!

Seeing that Feng Chen had bought roasted chicken, Tang Yuan asked Uncle Feng to make a simple yam porridge, saying they could eat the chicken with it.

She also invited Auntie to join them.

How could Yang Shujuan eat? All she wanted was to ask Uncle Feng how much money he had given his nephew!

She managed a strained smile, "Feng Chen, you must be making a lot of money delivering herbs to the County Hospital, right?"

Her cousin made four hundred pounds, while Feng Chen made six hundred pounds.

He must be earning a lot every year, at least four hundred if not six hundred yuan, right?

Making so much, and he hasn't offered any commission to Uncle? Everyone else gives a commission.

Even if not half, at least thirty percent should be given, right?

Though the herbs are collected by you, without Uncle, you wouldn't be able to exchange them for money, would you?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and her gaze showed it.

Tang Yuan and Feng Chen both knew she was angry but pretended not to notice. Tang Yuan didn't care; she was only visiting out of respect for Aunt Feng.

Feng Chen?

He cared even less.

Seeing that Yang Shujuan wasn't moving, he washed his hands, unwrapped the lotus leaf, tore off a chicken leg, and handed it to Tang Yuan, telling her to start eating.

He pushed the remaining roasted chicken towards Yang Shujuan, "Auntie, have some chicken."

Yang Shujuan stared at him, wanting to know how much he was earning.

Remembering what Uncle had said, Feng Chen replied, "Auntie, going into the mountains is very dangerous. It's just hard-earned money. Last month, two people from our team fell into a deep ravine while collecting herbs."

Although Yang Shujuan knew the prices of certain herbs, she didn't know exactly which ones Feng Chen delivered. She could only estimate.

She asked again about the quantity of herbs delivered.

Feng Chen brushed it off, saying it wasn't much.

Shan Xuejun had said before that they wouldn't casually reveal details about the herbs they collected, nor should they talk about it to avoid jealousy.

Although Director Jiang always takes herbs from the hospital for personal use, no one knows exactly what he takes, so it's best to keep things confidential to prevent unnecessary gossip.

Uncle Feng quickly made a small pot of cornmeal porridge with some flour lumps.

Seeing him use the limited fine grains for Feng Chen and Tang Yuan, Yang Shujuan felt upset and involuntarily rolled her eyes.

Uncle Feng glanced at her but said nothing, then turned to invite Feng Chen and Tang Yuan to eat.

Feng Chen had principles. He bought a whole roasted chicken, and he and Tang Yuan ate half, leaving the other half for Uncle and Auntie.

Yang Shujuan grew angrier the more she watched. With Big Brother and Little Sister not at home, Feng Chen didn't even ask about them?

What selfishness!

She tore off another chicken leg and half the body, "Save it for Feng Yi. I'm not hungry; you can eat it."

Uncle Feng urged Feng Chen and Tang Yuan to eat, feeling awkward and uncomfortable, but they managed to finish dinner.

As soon as they finished, Tang Yuan and Feng Chen immediately said their goodbyes.

Uncle Feng didn't try to keep them and personally saw them out.

Watching the two of them leave under the moonlight, Uncle Feng slowly returned to his seat at the table. His expression remained calm, and his tone was devoid of emotion. "Shujuan, Feng Chen is different from before. He’s now diligent and doesn’t cause trouble. Can you please stop treating him that way?"

He thought Yang Shujuan disliked Feng Chen for being idle. Now that he was working hard, she would be happy.

But it turned out to be wishful thinking.

Yang Shujuan: "How have I treated him? Did I not let them come in or not let them eat?"

Uncle Feng: "Shujuan, I’m talking to you about this, not to argue. When Feng Chen brings his girlfriend over, can you be nicer to him? Don’t make him lose face in front of her."

Yang Shujuan sneered, "Am I arguing? Wasn’t I polite? You gave him more herbs and money. Did I say anything?"

Uncle Feng didn’t want to argue with her. The couple had always been close, but whenever it came to his nephew, she would start a fight.

His younger brother had supported him through school when he was young. His brother lost his wife early, leaving behind this child. How could he not take care of him?

To accommodate her feelings, he had already done enough by not taking full responsibility.

Otherwise, he would have raised his nephew himself, educated him, and arranged a job for him in the city, whether it be a technical secondary school or high school.

He didn’t want to argue with his wife, but she wouldn’t listen to reason. So, he got up to wash the dishes and prepare for bed.

It seemed right not to tell her how much Feng Chen earned from selling herbs.

If she knew, she would think most of the 628 yuan should be theirs.

He felt a bit sad.

In the first few years of their marriage, he believed in unity and honesty between spouses, so he told her everything about his family, including arguments with his mother and villagers.

At the time, she comforted him gently, saying his mother had it tough.

But when it came time to care for his nephew, his past honesty became a weapon for her to mock and ridicule him. She would even suggest that Feng Chen’s misbehavior might be genetic.

He knew Yang Shujuan was very concerned about the five yuan he saved each month for his nephew. She even suspected he secretly gave more and tried every means to control all his salary. Even when she controlled his salary, she still doubted he was giving extra money to his nephew.

The lack of trust between them made him feel exhausted.

Tang Yuan and Feng Chen went to the guesthouse.

Tang Yuan: "Let’s only go to the hospital to see your uncle in the future, not to his home."

Feng Chen’s aunt might not be as outwardly expressive as her own aunt, but she exerted greater pressure.

Being stared at like that felt terrible.

It was true that some people could convey meanness just with their eyes!

She felt sorry for Feng Chen; his visits to his uncle’s house must have been even more suffocating in the past.

She couldn’t help but hug his waist and softly said, "Feng Chen, you don’t have to worry about your aunt’s attitude anymore. We won’t come here again!"

But Feng Chen felt sorry for her having to endure such treatment. He picked her up, kissed her lips, tasting the roast chicken, and said, "I know of a small night market. Go to sleep first tonight; I’ll go exchange some coupons and come back."

Money unspent is just waste paper. Now that they lacked everything, he wanted all kinds of coupons. Tomorrow, he would take his wife on a big shopping spree!