Chapter 47 Am I Not Plowing This Radish Field of Yours Right Now?

Chapter 47: Aren't I Just Tilling Your Radish Patch Right Now?

On the way home, the mountain wind howled past their ears.

The puttering sound of the three-wheeler's motor echoed through the valley.

In the cargo bed, Chi Luoxi and Chun Sheng sat side by side on small stools, their bodies swaying with the bumps and pits in the road.

Chun Sheng leaned over, half-covering his mouth with his hand, and whispered to Chi Luoxi, his eyes darting toward He Angxiao, who was driving intently up front. His voice was low enough for only the two of them to hear: "...What's his problem? Acting all folksy."

In Chun Sheng's mind, He Angxiao was supposed to be the kind of big boss who rode in luxury cars with an entourage.

Chi Luoxi imitated him, cupping his own hand around his mouth and whispering back: "Chunsheng, don't talk about my husband like that. He specially borrowed Uncle Wang's three-wheeler today just to pick you up. He'd never ridden one before. He practiced for a long time and even fell off twice."

The moment Chun Sheng heard how Chi Luoxi was defending his man, he got annoyed.

He shot Chi Luoxi a glare, nudged him with his shoulder, and dredged up the past: "Weren't you the one crying to me that that He guy was a total bastard, a scumbag, that he'd deceived your feelings and toyed with you, saying you never wanted to see him again? How long has it been? And now you're all 'hubby this, hubby that'? Chi Radish, have some self-respect, will you?"

Chi Luoxi's face flushed red. Feeling embarrassed, he lowered his head: "He explained everything to me. He really does care about me."

"Brother Chunsheng, don't worry. I won't let him push me around and bully me like before."

Chun Sheng looked at him skeptically.

Chi Luoxi tried to change Chun Sheng's bad impression of He Angxiao: "He's really not that bad. Look, he built the road for our village. Isn't it great? Smooth and straight. With this road, folks in the village can go down to town to sell their mountain goods and buy things—it's so much more convenient. And those kids up on the mountain used to have to get up before dawn and walk the mountain path to school. Now that the road's finished, my husband even donated a school bus in his own name to the town's elementary school. It picks up and drops off the students in this area every morning and evening. The kids can sleep in longer. He's actually pretty kind, right?"

Chun Sheng listened. This was the first he'd heard about the school bus donation.

Building the road benefited the entire village; donating a school bus benefited the next generation. No matter what He Angxiao's motives were, the results were genuinely good things.

This He Angxiao sure knew how to win people over, starting from the root.

Alright. Chun Sheng reluctantly retracted his earlier judgment on account of these practical deeds.

But his inner resistance wasn't completely gone.

Chun Sheng worried: "Brother's telling you the truth, don't take it the wrong way. You've only been out in society a few years. You don't know yet—men, especially rich men, are the easiest to go bad."

Chi Luoxi said: "My husband won't."

"How do you know? I'm not just trying to scare you. In the years I've worked in the city, I've seen too much. Those small-time contractors and bosses—as soon as they have a little money, they forget themselves. Keeping mistresses, side pieces, even number fours and fives—he keeps a wife at home and plays around outside. It's a mess!"

"And on top of that, your relationship is already kind of unconventional. It's even easier for problems to arise. Think about all the temptations someone in his position faces—you can't even imagine. He's nice to you now. Is it because you're new and exciting, or is it sincere? Can you guarantee it? What if one day he gets tired of you, or meets someone younger and more resourceful? What will you do?"

Chi Luoxi said very seriously to Chun Sheng: "No, Chunsheng. My husband's health isn't very good."

Chun Sheng was taken aback: "...Ah? What do you mean? Is he, like, impotent?"

If that were true, it would actually be a plus—at least no need to worry about him fooling around outside?

"No, no, not impotent!" Chi Luoxi blushed and quickly waved his hands to deny it. "He's just a little run-down. And he can't fall asleep unless he's next to me. Plus, he has OCD; he's a total neat freak, which is so Virgo. So he definitely wouldn't do anything with anyone else."

Up front, He Angxiao, who was concentrating on driving the three-wheeler, really didn't want to eavesdrop. But unfortunately, the two in the back thought their whispers were so quiet—yet with the mountain wind and the noisy motor, the key information still managed to slip right into his ears.

When he heard Chi Luoxi say he wasn't in great shape and a little run-down, He Angxiao's hand on the handlebars jerked, and the wheel almost went into the ditch.

He Angxiao: "...."

He wanted to turn around immediately and holler at the two gossips behind him: First, he wasn't deaf. Second, his health was excellent. Third, being picky about where he sleeps and having OCD were real, but what did that have to do with cheating?

And what had Virgos ever done to deserve this?

He Angxiao coughed loudly several times and raised his voice: "You guys okay back there? Too bumpy? Want me to slow down?"

Chi Luoxi was immediately distracted: "Not bumpy at all, honey. You drive so well—you got us up that steep slope no problem!"

Then Chi Luoxi turned back to whisper with Chun Sheng again.

He Angxiao listened up front, thinking these two either really thought he couldn't hear, or they were deliberately saying it loud enough for him.

And so, listening to them air his dirty laundry, he drove the three-wheeler carrying the two guys badmouthing him all the way back to Chi Family Village.

The vehicle drove into the village, following the newly paved road all the way to the doorstep of Aunt Chun's house.

Now the village roads were no longer dirt paths that turned you gray on a clear day and muddy when it rained. They now reached every household's door.

The once dark and shut-in village, overgrown with dense trees and wild grass, had opened up because of the road—some branches too close to the roadside had been cut down. The view widened, and sunlight poured in unobstructed, shining on the brand-new black asphalt, reflecting a warm glow.

The whole village, because of this road running through it, had a new, vibrant energy.

A road is a lifeline.

With a road, it's easier for people living in the mountains to get out, and easier for goods from outside to come in. This small mountain village came to life.

Of course, building this road hadn't been smooth sailing. It had occupied some villagers' farmland. For farmers who see their land as their lifeblood, even a tiny patch in a corner is a piece of their heart.

Several families whose land was taken had made a fuss, blocking the village chief's door, cussing and yelling, saying it would destroy their livelihood.

The village chief, usually a smiling old man, banged his tobacco pipe on the table so hard it clanged, and said in an extremely blunt tone: "Our generation, stuck in this mountain valley, facing the soil and back to the sky—suffered for a lifetime, been poor for a lifetime. If our roots are cut, so be it. But look up!"

He pointed to the children standing behind the few villagers who were making the biggest ruckus—half-grown kids staring blankly at the adults arguing.

"Look at your kids!" The chief's voice carried grief and anger. "Do you want your kids to be stuck in these mountains their whole lives like you, unable to leave, unable to see the sky beyond, repeating our old path, continuing to suffer in poverty?"

"This road is what the Chi Family Village has hoped for and dreamed of for generations. The government built a section before, and now Boss He is filling in the rest. This is the road for our kids to walk out into the world. This is the road for our village to come alive! If your land is taken, the village will find a way to compensate you elsewhere. If that doesn't work, I'll give you my own two-fen vegetable plot! But this road must be built! Whoever tries to block it again is cutting off the lifeline of the Chi Family Village's descendants!"

The villagers who had been making a fuss opened their mouths, looked at their children's innocent, curious eyes, then looked at the disapproving looks of the other villagers. In the end, they all fell silent, sheepishly lowering their heads.

The road was finally built.

The brand-new road lay quietly under the sunlight, like a black ribbon of hope, connecting the past and the future, inside the mountains and outside.

Chun Sheng jumped down from the three-wheeler's cargo bed. He steadied himself and saw He Angxiao lifting the woven bag off the three-wheeler. He quickly took it over: "Thanks, Boss He. Sorry you had to go out of your way like this."

He Angxiao: "No problem at all. Least I could do. You must be tired from the trip—go on in and take a load off."

Aunt Chun had already heard the commotion and came running out of the house.

When she saw her son, her eyes reddened immediately. She stepped forward, took Chun Sheng's hand, and looked him up and down, muttering that he'd lost weight and gotten darker. Then she quickly urged Chi Luoxi and He Angxiao: "Xiao Xi, Boss He, don't just stand outside. Come in quick! I've already made dinner. Eat here—I've got everything ready!"

Chi Luoxi looked at He Angxiao, who nodded to him, then smiled at Aunt Chun: "Then we'll trouble you, Aunt Chun."

Aunt Chun grinned from ear to ear and hurriedly ushered them inside.

On the square table in the main room, several dishes were already laid out. They were home cooking, but she clearly went all out.

There was a pot of fragrant free-range chicken stew, and Chi Luoxi's favorite dish—steamed pork with sweet potato starch—that Aunt Chun had made herself.

Chun Sheng set down his luggage and first started pulling things out of his bulging hiking backpack.

He bought a thick and warm wool hat for his father and a soft wool cardigan for his mother. Finally, he took out a paper bag and handed it to Chi Luoxi: "Radish, this is for you."

Chi Luoxi took it and opened it to find an off-white cashmere scarf.

On one corner of the scarf, a vivid cartoon radish pattern was embroidered with colored threads, grinning with a naive and charming expression.

Chi Luoxi picked up the scarf, stroking the soft fabric with affection: "Thank you, Chunsheng. I really like it. This radish is so beautiful."

Chunsheng had known from childhood that Chi Luoxi loved radishes. When they were young, Grandpa Chi used to make radish lanterns and carve radish flowers for Chi Luoxi.

Seeing this scarf, he immediately thought of Chi Luoxi and bought it without hesitation.

Seeing how delighted Chi Luoxi was at this moment, he felt the money was well spent.

Chi Luoxi held the scarf up to his neck, then turned to He Angxiao and asked, "Does it look good?"

He Angxiao: "It looks good."

The four of them sat around the table to eat. Uncle Chun would need Aunt Chun to feed him later.

Aunt Chun kept piling food onto Chunsheng's and Chi Luoxi's plates. She didn't neglect He Angxiao either; she intentionally pushed the bowl of steamed pork in rice flour towards him and said with a smile, "Boss He, try this. We make it ourselves in the mountains. It tastes different from what you city folks are used to."

The atmosphere at the table gradually warmed up.

Aunt Chun naturally praised the road construction again, her eyes full of gratitude when looking at He Angxiao. Chi Luoxi also quietly added some recent news from the village.

Halfway through the meal, He Angxiao said to Chunsheng, "Chunsheng, there's something I'd like to talk to you about. I also want to hear your thoughts."

Chunsheng: "Go ahead."

"It's about the village. I walked around the village earlier and also brought in experts to take a look. The area behind the mountain and the nearby hills have the right soil and climate for growing tea. The clouds and mist linger, and the temperature difference between day and night is large—it's a place that produces good tea."

He Angxiao said, "I plan to invest in Chijia Village and set up a tea plantation, not too small in scale. I'll handle the initial investment, technology, and sales channels. I'll form a company."

As he listened, Chunsheng's eyes slowly widened.

"In this day and age, many people from the mountains move out to make a living in the cities. The fact that so many Chijia Village people have stayed is partly because the older generation find it hard to leave their homeland, and also because our place has good feng shui—everything planted here can thrive."

He Angxiao's voice was calm and steady, instilling trust in his listeners. "Growing tea is a long-term endeavor. From planting to consistent harvesting, it takes at least one to three years. During this time, the tea trees need careful tending: weeding, fertilizing, pruning, pest control. These are meticulous tasks, but they are also skills that can be learned and mastered."

He looked at Chunsheng: "If you're willing, Chunsheng, I'd like you to help manage it. Not just in name—I mean truly learn and manage. I can hire professional trainers to teach you how to manage the tea garden, lead workers, and manage quality control. The villagers who come to learn will get paid as long as they work hard—it's not free labor. Once the tea garden starts making a profit, besides wages, there will also be dividends."

"If the tea is well-grown and well-managed, it will bring a steady stream of income. You can harvest several seasons a year: spring tea, summer tea, autumn tea. With good quality, sales won't be a problem. Then the villagers won't have to travel far for work. They can work near home, earn money, and still take care of their families—both the elderly and the young."

Chunsheng was completely stunned, forgetting to eat, just staring blankly at He Angxiao.

The land is kind and generous.

It silently bears everything—spring growth, autumn harvest, summer tillage, winter storage—nurturing generations of mountain people and laying to rest countless ancestors.

It gives gifts and also demands sweat.

No one understands the land's benevolence better than Chunsheng, and no one knows more clearly the hardships and helplessness of leaving this land to drift into unfamiliar cities, exchanging sweat and health for meager wages.

Who wants to leave their hometown?

All year round, you can only come back in a hurry during the Spring Festival and leave just as quickly. Your parents at home grow old, your children grow up—how many moments of companionship and growth have you missed along the way? When you face hardships outside, you can only swallow them yourself, always telling your family, 'I'm fine, don't worry.'

Chinese people, deep down, value returning to their roots. The first thing after earning money is to find a way to repair and rebuild the house at home, as if that house is the most solid hope and refuge in their hearts while drifting in a foreign land.

Chunsheng was no exception.

He looked at his mother's face at the table, which had visibly aged. His father had suffered a stroke many years ago and was bedridden, unable to take care of himself. Every month, the cost of medicine alone was a significant expense, not to mention the various check-ups and physical therapy.

His mother had to manage the household and take care of his father—wiping him down, turning him over, lifting him up and down.

His father was not short, and after becoming paralyzed, his body was heavy. Every time his mother lifted him, she was out of breath and couldn't straighten her back. Now her health was still okay, and she could barely manage. But in a few more years? She would also be old, her back and legs would give out—what would happen then?

His parents always gave him good news and hid the bad. On the phone, it was always 'Everything is fine at home, don't worry about us, just work hard.' But once, when his mother had a bad cold with a fever, she was weak all over but still forced herself to get up and cook for his father, and she almost fainted in the kitchen.

His father, lying in bed, anxiously slapped the bed board, tears streaming down his aged face, saying over and over how he wished he had died earlier so he wouldn't be a burden to them.

His mother later told Chunsheng about this over the phone, crying, and Chunsheng felt terrible.

His mother also urged him to get married. In the village, people his age already had children old enough to help out. But Chunsheng had never thought about it. It wasn't that he didn't want to; he didn't dare.

With his family situation—his father paralyzed, his mother old, himself working far away for years with no stable home and unstable income—who would want to marry him? Wouldn't that be an unfair burden on a good woman? Asking her to marry into a family with two elderly people needing care and a husband who is always away from home.

Then, with pressure from both families to have a child, the burden of a whole family would fall entirely on his shoulders. He would work himself to death outside, while his child would see him only a few times a year. If you have a child but don't raise them, what kind of father are you?

Chunsheng made a living through manual labor, sweating profusely at construction sites, earning wages with his health and sweat. Occasionally, late at night after work, he would also feel lost and ask himself: Is this all my life is going to be?

Like a blindfolded donkey, pulling a millstone round and round, never able to escape the millstone that traps him, until his last ounce of strength is spent.

But now, just when he was almost resigned to his fate, an opportunity—one he had never dared to imagine, an opportunity that could change his destiny and even the destiny of the entire Chijia Village—was suddenly placed before him.

Working close to home, having a job, earning money. Learning skills, becoming a manager. Being able to stay with his parents, take care of his family, and let the young people of the village no longer leave their hometown—reviving this fading village.

Chunsheng looked at He Angxiao, then at Chi Luoxi, who was looking at him with eager expectation, and then at his mother beside him, whose eyes also showed excitement and hope.

He felt his heart beating fast, blood rushing to his head, his throat dry, his palms sweating. "...Let me think about it."

After the meal, everyone helped Aunt Chun clear the dishes. Aunt Chun's dog, Dahuang, had given birth to puppies. Chi Luoxi was attracted by the newborn fluffy yellow puppy in the corner of the yard. He crouched down, dipped the tip of his chopstick into a bit of broth, and carefully reached out to tease it.

The puppy whimpered softly, sticking out its pink little tongue to lick. Chi Luoxi was tickled and beamed with joy.

Chunsheng and He Angxiao chatted under the tree by the gate. Chunsheng pulled out another cigarette from the pack and offered it.

He Angxiao shook his head and politely declined: "Thanks, I don't smoke."

Chunsheng didn't insist. He put the cigarette back into the pack, held it unlit in his mouth.

Chunsheng: "Boss He, I've thought carefully about what you said at the table just now. It's a good thing. A huge good thing. For our village and for my family."

"But I want to say some unpleasant things first. It's not that I'm being suspicious of you, nor am I trying to spoil the fun. But these days, things are unpredictable and people's hearts change—isn't that how it is? What if, I mean what if, one day you and Radish have a falling out, and you change your mind. Then what about this tea mountain, this company, the money invested, and the people in the village? How will it be settled?"

Some risks must be laid out on the table before things start, even if it might offend people or ruin this good opportunity.

He Angxiao's face showed no displeasure.

After Chunsheng finished, He Angxiao slowly began to speak, clearly laying out the pros and cons of a business partnership.

"You're right—things are unpredictable and people's hearts change. These must be considered." He affirmed Chunsheng's concerns. "That's why I said invest to start a company, teach skills, pay wages. It's not charity or just giving money."

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. I understand that principle. I admit that choosing to invest here does have a bit of self-interest. I like Chi Luoxi, so I want to treat him well, make him happy, give him a sense of security. He values this place, values all of you, so I also want to be good to this place, to all of you. There's nothing wrong with saying that."

"But at the same time, I'm a businessman. I've seen the environment here and brought in professionals to do assessments. The mountains of Chijia Village indeed have potential. The soil, climate, and water sources are all suitable for a high-quality tea plantation. Nowadays, people are increasingly concerned about health and seek out natural and organic products. Good tea has never lacked a market. Investing here has great long-term potential. It's a profitable business, not just throwing money away on charity."

He Angxiao looked at Chi Luoxi in the yard, who was holding the little yellow puppy, a smile lighting up his face, his eyes crinkling with delight.

If this place really takes off, the tea garden starts turning a profit, the villagers have stable incomes and something to look forward to, their lives get better, then even if someday things go wrong between me and Chi Luoxi, he’ll have a home here, with family, a place to call his own, and he’ll be fine.

These words were too down-to-earth, too far-off.

So far-off that Chun Sheng was momentarily stunned.

He hadn’t expected He Angxiao to have thought so deeply. The original intention of the investment might have been selfish, but his planning was hardly impulsive.

He wasn’t trying to keep Chi Luoxi as a pampered canary dependent on him, but to give him a forest where he could fly freely and rest safely even if he lost his shelter.

Chun Sheng was deeply moved.

At least at this moment, on this issue, He Angxiao’s sense of responsibility and forethought made him—someone who saw himself as Chi Luoxi's protective older brother—feel inadequate.

Chun Sheng said sincerely, "Boss He, you're a good person."

He Angxiao chuckled and shook his head. "I'm not a good person. But for Chi Luoxi, I definitely want to be a good person. Chi Luoxi told me that you started working away from home at a young age, single-handedly supporting such a big family, taking care of your parents. It hasn’t been easy. You’re quite capable too."

Chun Sheng was a bit embarrassed by his words, breaking into a humble smile: "Ah, it's nothing. Children from poor families mature early; don't we all go through the same thing? You’re the capable one, building such a big enterprise."

Two men, one from a bustling city, the other from a remote mountain village, stood at the door of this simple farmhouse, sharing mutual admiration because of the person they both cared about.

After chatting for a while, Chun Sheng seemed to remember something, his expression turning hesitant again. He scratched his head: "Uh, Boss He, I'm not from your world, but I just want to ask—in your rich and powerful families, won't they look down on our Little Radish for being a man? I've heard that you wealthy folks all care about matching social status, marrying a proper lady from a good family who can help the family, things like that?"

The question was blunt and offensive.

But Chun Sheng was genuinely worried.

He feared that if this relationship didn't have He Angxiao's family's approval, the one who would get hurt would be Chi Luoxi.

He Angxiao listened: "Matching family backgrounds is something many people care about. It’s not about class or wealth; everyone has their own calculations, wanting to get the greatest benefit and the most secure future with the least cost. That’s normal."

"But rules are rigid; people are flexible. Whoever has more say and more strength gets to set or break the rules."

He Angxiao looked at Chun Sheng: "In my family’s case, I’m the one with the final say. What I say goes."

These words carried an arrogant confidence.

He Angxiao had the ability and determination to clear obstacles and set his own terms for his life and the person he chose.

Chun Sheng’s gaze at He Angxiao now held genuine admiration—not for his wealth, but for his sense of responsibility and confidence.

Once Chi Luoxi finished playing with the puppy, washed his hands, he and He Angxiao said goodbye to Chun Dama and Chun Sheng and headed home.

Chun Sheng saw them to the door and said to Chi Luoxi: "Boss He is a real man."

Chi Luoxi was a bit confused. He remembered that on the way back, Brother Chunsheng had sworn that even if the whole village was bribed by He Angxiao and praised him to the skies, in his heart, He Angxiao’s image as a scoundrel would never change one bit.

And now it had only been the span of one meal.

It seemed He Angxiao had really conquered the entire village.

At home, they entered the yard one after the other.

Chi Luoxi put away his gifts, and saw He Angxiao close the door.

Chi Luoxi asked in confusion: "Honey? It’s broad daylight; why are you closing the door? Maybe someone will drop by."

He Angxiao walked over, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him toward the house.

Chi Luoxi sensed something off, but before he could ask, He Angxiao had already taken him into the bedroom and closed the door behind them.

Then, before Chi Luoxi could react, He Angxiao pushed him to the bedside, leaned over, and started quickly stripping off his clothes.

"Honey! What, what are you doing? It’s still daytime; we don’t do that here in the village." Chi Luoxi flailed his arms to block him, covering his chest.

He Angxiao didn’t stop; he even sped up because of Chi Luoxi’s resistance.

He lowered his head, his nose touching Chi Luoxi’s, his breath hot, his eyes deep: "Prove... I'm... not... impotent."

Chi Luoxi: "…………"

"...Honey, I’m sorry, but I already said you’re not." Chi Luoxi made one last attempt to resist.

He Angxiao didn’t listen, easily overpowering his resistance. His fingers deftly slipped off Chi Luoxi’s sweater, revealing a pale collarbone. He bent down and bit the delicate skin as punishment, leaving a shallow bite mark.

"And my body is great. Not weak at all."

Chi Luoxi was about to cry: "...I know that, honey. If you want to prove it, go dig a few acres of land tomorrow, and everyone will know you’re strong."

He Angxiao: "Am I not plowing your radish patch right now?"

Chi Luoxi was left speechless, his body softening like water, the last bit of resistance gone.

Finally, he clung weakly to He Angxiao’s shoulders, feeling the particularly prolonged proof brought on by the false accusation.

Chi Luoxi swore never to speak ill of He Angxiao to outsiders again.

-----------------------

Author’s note: Little Radish sells tea gags.

Little Radish: Hey brother, want to buy some tea?

President He: ...I’ll take a thousand cans.

Little Radish: Brother, I was raised by my grandpa. You won’t look down on me for being a country boy, will you?