Chapter 132

Chapter 132

What’s the Benefit?

"Where are the seeds? Can I see them first?" Hu Yunlai asked eagerly.

He had inquired and learned that the items in Lin Nannan’s possession were left behind by those who’d been framed and exiled to the countryside. They had taught Lin Nannan many skills, leaving only valuable things behind. Thus, he cared deeply, hoping for more high-quality seeds to benefit the people and strengthen the nation.

"Not now!" Lin Nannan politely declined. "After this harvest is done, I’ll let you see them, sir."

Mostly, she worried that taking them in and out wouldn’t protect the seeds well. The best time to bring them out would be when they were ready to be planted.

Hu Yunlai was initially disappointed by her refusal, but upon hearing there was still a chance, he perked up and agreed. "Good, good! Then I won’t go back. I’ll stay here, and you can come talk to me anytime."

His dedication won Lin Nannan over, and she quickly nodded in agreement.

Lu Hang had mentioned that the village had a harvester, so Lin Nannan knew she’d need the village head’s approval first to have it serviced before use. Excited, she went to find the village head, only to be told the harvester had broken down last year.

"If it’s broken, why wasn’t it repaired?" she asked, puzzled.

The village head gave a wry smile. "We did try! Last year, during the busiest time, the harvester broke down, and everyone suffered. I even went to town to hire a repairman, but after inspecting it for a long time, he couldn’t figure out the problem. In the end, he left without even taking his payment. We didn’t know what to do, so we just left it untouched."

Lin Nannan furrowed her brow, looking at the hapless and frustrated village head. Remembering the old parts Commander Zhang had brought, she rubbed her temples and said, "Let me check it out. I’ll take a look and see if it can be fixed."

The village head knew a thing or two about certain matters and had been reminded by Lu Fang. He immediately nodded in cooperation. "I’ll take you there right now. The harvester’s been sitting in the warehouse—too good to trash, too broken to use. It’s been a headache."

If Lin Nannan also said it couldn’t be repaired, he’d really have to figure out a way to dispose of it. Otherwise, it was just too painful to look at.

Lin Nannan let the village head grumble as they walked. When they reached the warehouse, stale air hit her lungs. After the door was opened and the air had cleared a bit, she stepped inside.

The harvester was a relic—the sort she could’ve built herself if she had the materials.

She examined it briefly before starting a no-nonsense inspection, not caring how dirty the machine was. Her thoroughness made the village head beside her clench his hands nervously.

Lin Nannan’s confident demeanor made Lu Ding’s pulse quicken with hope.

After some tapping and testing, Lin Nannan quickly identified the problem. She was stunned such a simple fix had stumped the repairman, leaving her speechless.

Lifting her dirt-streaked face, she looked at Lu Ding and asked, "Village Head, if I fix this, what do I get?"

Her family was strapped for cash, and she needed to earn some.

Lu Ding blinked in disbelief. "You really know how? You can fix it?"

"Yes, and some parts are missing. Luckily, Commander Zhang brought the exact ones we need last time. I guarantee I can repair the harvester. But as for the price—what do you say?" she asked bluntly.

"Don’t worry, we won’t shortchange you," Lu Ding replied after a moment’s thought. "I can’t set a price for the parts, but for the repair fee—if you fix it, I’ll give you ten yuan. As for the parts, just tell me the cost. If it’s fair, I’ll agree."