Chapter 597 Collective Sideline

Chapter 597: The Collective Side Business

Granny Blind muffled her sobs with her hand, crying uncontrollably, and between sobs, she revealed the truth.

"Xing Er... she isn't really our child. If we can help her find her real family, that’d be best."

Jiang Yu froze in shock. "Granny, what are you saying?"

Granny Blind covered her eyes. "I did have a granddaughter, yes. Her mom ran off with some man after having her. At first, her dad raised her by himself, but when she was three, she fell seriously ill and passed away. Xing Er was found later."

She’d kept this secret for years, partly out of selfishness—she was always scared He Xing’s real family would come take her, leaving her alone.

Now that she was sick, she finally realized how wrong she’d been.

What if He Xing’s family’s been looking for her too?

"Jiang Yu, if you can find her real family... please tell them I’m sorry."

Jiang Yu chewed her lip. "How did this happen? Was He Xing... kidnapped by you?"

Granny Blind shook her head. "No, we found her. No matter how bad things got, we’d never kidnap a child."

Her real granddaughter was raised somewhere else, with the agreement that she’d be returned at five years old.

But she didn’t even make it to five—she died.

Then by chance, they found He Xing, and her dad brought her home, leaving her in Granny’s care.

Everyone just assumed she was the Hes’ real daughter. No one ever questioned it.

With He Xing’s parents gone, Granny was the only one who knew the truth.

She was scared that if she died, the secret would die with her, and no one would ever know He Xing’s real origins.

"If I get the chance, I’ll help her. Don’t worry."

With Jiang Yu’s promise, Granny Blind let out a sigh of relief.

She knew it was a big ask, but aside from Jiang Yu, she had no one else to turn to.

As Jiang Yu stepped outside, He Xing immediately approached.

"Jiang Yu-jie, what’d she say?"

Jiang Yu shook her head. "I couldn’t persuade her. Your grandma’s too stubborn—she won’t go to the hospital."

He Xing’s face fell, her head hanging low.

She had expected this outcome.

"Forget it. She’s always been this way."

Jiang Yu hesitated, debating whether to tell her the truth, but in the end, she held back. Instead, she took out twenty yuan and pressed it into He Xing’s hand.

He Xing naturally refused. "Jiang Yu-jie, you and Brother Ye have already done so much for me. I can’t take your money."

Jiang Yu knew she’d say no, so she didn’t give more.

"Take it! If it weren’t for you, I’d be stuck in that chicken farm mess. Don’t stand on ceremony with me."

He Xing pursed her lips and clenched her fingers.

"What a shame the chicken farm can't continue."

She had been helping Jiang Ye manage the chicken farm and was earning a wage from it.

Without this income in the future, life at home would become difficult again.

"Look after Granny. I'm going to stop by the team leader's place."

"Alright."

Arriving at He Youfu's house, she found only Liu Junmei at home.

Seeing Jiang Yu, Liu Junmei was thrilled.

"I told you, with you being pregnant, you shouldn't keep running around. You need to be more careful."

Jiang Yu smiled. "That's exactly why I'm taking the chance to visit you more while my belly isn't too big yet. Once the baby is born, I'll have to do a month of confinement, and who knows when I'll be able to come again."

"That's true. I haven't seen Jiang Ting for a while. Later, I asked your mom and found out she's getting remarried to Fu Xiangyang?"

Liu Junmei was dumbfounded when she heard—what a foolish thing to do.

Jiang Yu's smile faded slightly as she nodded.

"Probably already remarried. They’re even throwing a small banquet. It’s her choice."

She wasn’t very interested in Jiang Ting’s affairs and changed the subject. "I heard they discovered a chicken farm up in the mountains?"

Thinking she was just curious, Liu Junmei chatted with her about it.

"Yes, someone reported it to us, and that’s how we found out there was such a large chicken farm up there."

But things got too heated from the start, so afterward, nobody wanted to get involved, fearing they’d get implicated. As a result, they never found out who was behind the chicken farm, and it all blew over.

"Auntie, has Uncle He ever considered starting a community side business to generate income for our village?" Jiang Yu asked.

Liu Junmei was surprised, mulling over the idea.

She was quick and immediately grasped what Jiang Yu meant.

"You mean our village should take over the chicken farm?"

Jiang Yu said, "Auntie, we have plenty of riverfront below us, and the reed beds are already full of wild ducks—perfect for raising ducks. And with the mountains right behind us, it’d be perfect for chickens."

In her opinion, it was a shame not to use such a prime location with both mountains and water.

If private businesses weren’t allowed, then doing it under the public name for collective income couldn’t be faulted.

Such a big decision was not Liu Junmei’s call to make.

"I’ll talk to your uncle when he gets back."

Just as she finished speaking, He Youfu’s voice came: "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Liu Junmei smiled and went to meet him. "Look who’s here."

He Youfu looked closer and smiled.

"Jiang Yu, what brings you by?"

Jiang Yu cocked her head. "I seized the good weather to come see you."

Liu Junmei went over Jiang Yu's proposal with He Youfu again.

He Youfu's face grew solemn as he carefully considered the idea.

It was feasible, but not easy.

"Buying chicks and ducklings requires capital, and feed costs money too. Raising too few wouldn't be worth the effort, while raising too many would mean high costs—it’s not simple."

Moreover, it wasn’t a guaranteed success.

If the chickens or ducks fell ill midway, they could lose money.

"Uncle He, there’s always risk in business. Since when does the world offer such a good deal—making money without investment or risk?"

If such a thing existed, we wouldn't be the ones getting it anyway.

He Youfu nodded. "That’s true. But what put this idea in your head?"

Jiang Yu smiled. "Well, I heard someone was raising chickens on the mountain. From what you’ve seen, how do you think those chickens were raised?"

He Youfu said frankly, "They were raised well. And those rabbits—their coats were shiny, and they were plump."

Since they hadn’t caught who was raising them, those animals got seized for the collective.

He was just thinking of selling them.

As he spoke, his eyes narrowed suspiciously, and he gave Jiang Yu a long look.

"Jiang Yu, was that chicken farm on the mountain yours?"

Jiang Yu immediately denied it. "No way! You know I'm hardly ever around—do I have time to manage a chicken farm?"

That was true. He Youfu let it go.

"You’re already a leader at the Second State Cotton Mill. You’ll surely climb higher in the future—don't go sticking your neck out."

Jiang Yu nodded, playing the obedient role.

"I know. Precisely because I know individual enterprises are off-limits, I thought of suggesting a collective sideline for you. Speaking of those chickens, ducks, and rabbits on the mountain—why not keep them instead of selling them? It’d save you the upfront costs."

He Youfu was all for bringing in money for everyone, but it wasn’t an easy task.

He couldn’t decide alone—they’d have to hold a meeting and let everyone vote.

"How about you stay and back me up?"

With Jiang Yu present during the voting, the proposal would have better odds.