My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 110 Selling Fish
"What a wonderful girl. I wish I had a daughter like you."

Liang Hongyu held onto Wang Susu tightly, reluctant to let go, and said with a smile, "I don't know if Fugui has mentioned us to you. Actually, we haven't known Fugui for very long, but we are quite destined to meet. Our family members went back to our hometown to visit relatives one after another, and he ran into us all."

“He often goes to the county town, and we became familiar with each other over time. This time he stayed at my in-laws' house for a few days, and on his way back he passed by your place and thought he would like to come and visit.”

As they spoke, they took the basket hanging on the bicycle down with Qin Rong, lifted the cloth covering it, and found dried meat, pastries and various snacks inside. Just by looking at the packaging, you could tell that they were definitely not cheap goods.

“This was sent by my son and daughter-in-law. Your Uncle Qin and I are getting old and our teeth aren’t good, so we can’t eat this much. We brought some over for you.”

Hearing this, Wang Susu breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought the elderly couple were some kind of relatives of Chen Ling.

"Come on, catch it quickly."

Seeing Wang Susu in a daze, Liang Hongyu thought she was embarrassed, so she stuffed the basket into her hands and happily pushed the bicycle into the house with Qin Rongxian.

"This……"

Wang Susu glanced at Chen Ling, looking somewhat troubled.

"It's okay, just keep it."

Chen Ling smiled at her and briefly explained their backgrounds, telling her not to be reserved or overthink it, and to treat them as ordinary guests visiting his home.

They then drove the oxcart to the backyard, put two large watermelons in the well to freeze, and sat under the shade of a tree to chat.

With Chen Ling's reminder, Wang Susu truly treated the two elderly people as retired folks who had nothing better to do than wander around aimlessly, and her mindset relaxed.

As for Liang Hongyu and the other woman, they had heard Chen Ling say that he had been selling things in the county town without his wife's knowledge and had even lied to them about it, giving them a false name. So they were quite careful about this, and whenever the topic of Chen Ling's business in the county town was about to come up, they would quickly change the subject and gloss over it vaguely.

Fortunately, Wang Susu knew that her husband was no longer fooling around and had much more serious business to attend to, so she didn't ask him specifically.

While eating watermelon and chatting, the elderly couple somehow started talking about their time in the countryside. They talked about Fenglei Town and the surrounding villages, reminiscing about how they ate together in a communal pot, did collective labor, and regularly organized cultural activities, such as singing folk songs and watching movies.

It just so happens that Wang Susu's home is located in Fenglei Town, which immediately sparked a conversation.

Time flies when you're chatting and laughing.

When the elderly couple came to visit, Chen Ling genuinely assumed they were just bored and stopped by on their way. So when it was time to cook lunch, he kept it simple and light.

Unexpectedly, when Qin Rong saw him preparing lunch, she insisted on cooking, saying she would make two of her signature northern dishes.

"Uncle Qin, you should rest. When you come to my house, how can I let a guest cook?"

Liang Hongyu laughed when she heard this: "Your Uncle Qin has been in the capital for so many years, and he has always cooked for our family dinners. Fugui, don't be polite with him, just let him cook. You two haven't traveled far from home much, so let you try some Northern cuisine this time."

Chen Ling couldn't say anything more now.

"Fugui, is there a community organization in the village?"

"Yes, there's a cripple's guild to the west. Uncle Qin, tell me what you need, and I'll go buy it."

Public ownership was abolished long ago, but due to the remoteness of the province, traces of public ownership still exist everywhere today.

For example, the village commune address is still preserved, along with the old mill, threshing ground, and so on. On ordinary days, villagers refer to the village committee as "going to the brigade to do this or that" instead of "village committee." They also don't call the small shop a "small shop" but rather "cooperative," the same "cooperative" as in the supply and marketing cooperative.

Qin Rong and his companion returned to their hometown, and as the saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," they adopted the local customs and used the local names.

"No need, I'll go with you. I need to choose."

"Okay, Uncle Qin, let me tell you first. We have pheasants, rabbits, fish, and eggs. We also have green beans, loofah, eggplant, tomatoes, and chives. You can see what else you want to buy..."

"Wow, this guy has vegetables, fine, but pheasants and rabbits too? How did he preserve them in this heat?"

"We didn't really preserve them. Our dog would catch two or three every few days, and often we wouldn't finish them at one meal before they were ready for the next."

"Oh, this dog is great, how come I didn't see it?"

Qin Rong looked around the yard, but couldn't find a dog.

Seeing this, Chen Ling laughed: "I haven't been taking care of them much lately. They run around like crazy every day and won't come back until it's mealtime."

"Haha, this is the style of a country dog, much freer and happier than a city dog."

The two talked as they went out together. They went to Cui the Cripple's shop, bought three catties of pork, some offal, and some side dishes like tofu and sweet potato starch, and then returned.

Upon seeing what Qin Rongxian had chosen, Chen Ling roughly knew what dishes he was going to make. After arriving home, he boiled and soaked the sweet potato starch, poached some vegetarian meatballs, and then Qin Rongxian began to cook the dishes.

This time, Chen Ling became the assistant, washing and chopping vegetables, preparing seasonings, and finally cleaning up the stove, letting Qin Rong do it first.

At first, Chen Ling thought that the two elders couldn't cook, but seeing the current situation, at least Qin Rong was an expert. He heated the oil in the wok, added seasonings, and caramelized sugar, all very efficiently. His cooking speed was no slower than Chen Ling's. Shortly after noon, several dishes were already ready: stir-fried three kinds of vegetables, stir-fried fish fillets, braised fish maw, and shredded pork with sweet bean sauce.

A large pot of stew was simmering on the stove.

Beijing cuisine is mainly characterized by stir-frying, deep-frying, braising, steaming, and stewing. It is characterized by large portions and strong flavors. However, the strong flavors here are not the same as those in the south, which involve heavy use of ingredients and lots of chili peppers. Rather, the cooking methods and ingredients make the dishes more flavorful than usual. If not handled properly, many southerners simply cannot get used to it.

Qin Rongxian's dishes were just right; the seasonings and saltiness were perfectly balanced. The stir-fried three kinds of offal, in particular, were a test of skill. Too little salt would overpower the gamey smell, while too much would be cloyingly salty.

"Uncle Qin, you're amazing! These Northern dishes you made are so delicious, they're completely different from what I imagined."

Chen Ling tasted the remaining broth and couldn't help but give it a thumbs up.

"Haha, I've been making this for decades. If I weren't too old to flip the wok anymore, it would taste even better."

Qin Rong shook her head and smiled, then she and Chen Ling carried the dish to the table together.

Before long, the big pot of stew was ready. Pork, sweet potato starch, tofu, vegetarian meatballs, and bok choy were simmered together in one pot, and the aroma of firewood wafted out from the stove, instantly whetting one's appetite.

Chen Ling and Wang Susu thoroughly enjoyed the meal, especially Wang Susu, who was eating Northern cuisine for the first time in her life and ate an extra steamed bun.

Even Liang Hongyu was amazed; Qin Rongxian's cooking today was much tastier than usual.

The two were unaware that it was due to the water and vegetables from Chen Ling's house; they simply thought they were in a good mood and had performed exceptionally well.

After finishing their meal, the elderly couple looked around the yard, praising its beauty.

It was early summer, and the yard was already lush and green. Green loofahs and purple broad beans climbed all over the trellises, and the peach and jujube trees were laden with fruit, their branches bending low. There was also a pond full of lotus flowers, where fish would occasionally leap out of the water to eat the small insects crawling on the lotus blossoms. Several rabbits sniffed and scurried around the yard, while unknown little birds hopped among the branches...

Everything there exuded the charm of rural life, bringing the elderly couple a sense of peace and contentment, even leading them to consider retiring there.

"Fugui, can you drive?"

The elderly couple were feeding the fish by the pond when Qin Rongxian suddenly asked this question.

Chen Ling was taken aback by the question and replied, "Does knowing how to drive a tractor count?"

"Haha, tractors count too. Actually, if you can drive a tractor, you can drive a car. They're pretty much the same. Cars are easy to learn."

Qin Rongxian said with a smile.

"Why did you suddenly ask that, Uncle Qin?"

“When your aunt and I came from the countryside, we heard them saying that the newly appointed leader of the county was looking for a driver who could drive. They required that the driver be young, strong, and good-looking. I think you are quite suitable.”

"Why don't you give it a try? I saw a long line at the township government early this morning, but none of those young people are as good-looking as you, their appearance can't compare to yours."

Liang Hongyu nodded in agreement.

Actually, this was something they had discussed before they came: to arrange a decent job for Chen Ling, so that he wouldn't spend his whole life stuck in the mountains.

However, he couldn't be too direct, nor could he mention any outrageous positions. After all, they had only known each other for a short time, and Chen Ling didn't know their identities, so he could only bring up the matter indirectly.

There's an old saying: "Those who offer unsolicited kindness are either treacherous or thieves."

Nobody's a fool; no one will easily believe someone is kind to them for no reason, unless it's their parents or relatives. Otherwise, there's a high probability they have ulterior motives. The two of them were also mindful of this, knowing that being open about it would easily arouse Chen Ling's suspicion, making it difficult to explain later.

However, as long as Chen Ling agrees, everything else will be easy to handle. Information doesn't spread quickly these days, and they can arrange this matter back in the county town. Although Liang Hongyu's name isn't as influential locally as it is in the capital, she still has some connections.

The elderly couple were full of confidence, but Chen Ling didn't pay much attention to them. Qin Qiumei had previously told him to go to the township government, but he didn't go. So why would he go to the county to drive for someone?

Seeing Chen Ling shaking his head, looking quite uninterested, Liang Hongyu became a little anxious: "Fugui, don't underestimate the driver. Once you become one, you'll have plenty of opportunities in the future."

Before Chen Ling could react to this, Wang Susu couldn't help but whisper, "Aunt Hongyu, isn't it said that civil servants can't just have babies whenever they want?"

Then, she glanced at Chen Ling discreetly and, seeing that he didn't react, said, "Last time, the people from the family planning office thought that A-Ling's family planning slogan was outstanding, so they wanted to recruit A-Ling to be the propaganda committee member of the township government, but he didn't go."

“Going there to have a second child is a nightmare. There’s someone in our village who works at the township police station. They got sterilized this year. I heard they were supposed to be fined 10,000 yuan and it would affect their records and their children’s future. Luckily, they only got sterilized. That kind of work is too scary. A-Ling doesn’t want to go, and I’m even less willing.”

These words confused Qin Rongxian and Liang Hongyu. They never expected that someone had invited Chen Ling to the countryside before, and he hadn't gone yet.

That's another story.

The key issue is that even Wang Susu, the daughter-in-law, doesn't want her to go. Other women would be thrilled to be a driver for a leader, and they'd fight tooth and nail to get the job. Why is it different for them?

This guy really made Liang Hongyu extremely anxious. She thought to herself, "Silly girl, what's the big deal about having a child? As long as Fugui is willing to accept the arrangements, it's no big deal."

But in my haste and with many concerns, I didn't know what to say for a moment.

Just then, a little child wearing open-crotch pants burst into the yard and interrupted their conversation with a childish voice.

"Uncle Fugui, Uncle Fugui, Heiwa Xiaojin is fighting with some outsider's dog. It's a really fierce fight. You should go and take a look."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling immediately stood up: "Where is it? Take me there quickly."

"It's right on the dam outside my house."

"Susu, you stay home with Uncle Qin and Aunt Hongyu. I'll go see what's going on."

Chen Ling gave a few words of advice to Wang Susu, who was also somewhat worried and anxious, then picked up the baby and hurriedly left.

This child is Wang Juxiang's son, nicknamed Choudan. He is two years younger than Xiaosen and always runs around the village with Xiaosen and the others, wearing open-crotch pants. His home is at the entrance of the village, not far from the reservoir dam.

Compared to his father and grandmother, Chou Dan was a more sensible child. Liang Guizhen favored him a little, giving him more pocket money and snacks than Wang Jusheng's two children. However, Chou Dan often shared with his older sister and younger brother, which made Wang Jusheng and his wife very fond of their nephew.

Carrying the little stinky egg, Chen Ling hurriedly arrived at the village entrance, where he could hear the barking of dogs on the dam coming from afar.

Looking in the direction of the sound, Chen Ling saw that the dam was surrounded by a crowd of people, making a lot of noise. He couldn't see what was happening. Seeing this, Chen Ling became a little worried and quickly ran over with Chou Dan in his arms. Squeezing into the crowd, he saw Xiao Jin standing majestically in the middle of a large group of local dogs, confronting more than a dozen other fierce and powerful large hunting dogs. Heiwa was already locked in a fierce struggle with one of the large black and red dogs with bulging muscles all over its body. The surrounding local dogs were barking wildly, supporting Heiwa and cheering him on.

Seeing this, Chen Ling's heart jumped, but it quickly calmed down. He could tell that Heiwa had the upper hand. The black and red dog had been tearing at Heiwa for a while, but it hadn't hurt him at all. Instead, Heiwa pounced on it, biting its neck and twisting its neck while swinging it wildly with his powerful waist. The dog's thick body was as strong and powerful as a bull. When it went berserk, the black and red dog had no power to resist. It was like a chick being picked up by Heiwa, howling desperately and urinating in fear.

The previously lively crowd fell silent, staring blankly as Heiwa unleashed his fury, until a piece of flesh was torn from the neck of the large black and red dog, and scalding blood gushed out, leaving a bright red stain on Heiwa's head and the ground. The large black and red dog, its neck severed, breathed its last.

"Brother Fugui, your dog is really fierce."

Chen Ling was immediately drawn to his own dogs upon arrival. It was only when he heard voices that he noticed a familiar face standing behind the dozen or so hunting dogs – it was Lynx, whom he hadn't seen for almost two months.

Lynx didn't return alone; several people were standing with him, each leading two or three hunting dogs on long ropes, and behind them was a row of dirty, mud-covered jeeps. Chen Ling hadn't noticed them at first because the villagers had blocked his view.

"Heiwa, Xiaojin, you two come back here."

Chen Ling called the two dogs over to him, then nodded to the lynx and said, "Oh, it's the lynx brothers. What's going on here?"

"It's nothing serious. It's just that these two dogs weren't trained properly. They dared to bare their teeth at the children as soon as they got out of the car. Your dog saw this and taught them a lesson. They deserved to die."

The lynx smiled faintly, then bowed to the two people next to him to apologize, and took out two bills to hand over.

The couple didn't say anything else. After accepting the money, they pulled a little girl over to Chen Ling and said, "Fu Gui, we really owe you a lot for your dog today. Otherwise, I don't know what would have happened to my girl."

Chen Ling was still a bit dazed at this point, but he also saw that besides the big black and red dog, there was a hunting dog lying on the ground next to it, its death was quite tragic. He didn't know whether it was bitten to death by the village dogs or beaten to death by the villagers.

"Huh? What's going on, Sister-in-law Xinghua?"

“These outsiders were bringing their dogs into the village. My dog ​​smelled the dogs and came out barking. My daughter followed them out to see what was going on. Who knew that their dogs would break free of their leashes and pounce on my daughter? It was terrifying.”

"Luckily, your dog was here. It chased those two dogs away without saying a word. But they had a lot of dogs with them, and they started fighting in front of my house. I was really worried that your dog would get hurt, so I took a shovel and helped to fight them a few times. But they got more and more aggressive."

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It was posted before 12 o'clock, so this chapter is from the 20th.
Thank you to the friends Dancha Beixiang, 08a, DuansiLS, and Xuehai Zilong for their donations. I haven't been able to increase my update frequency recently, only managing a maximum of 4,000 words per day. I'm busy and have to take a day off. Also, I'm about to start a new storyline, so I don't dare to write carelessly. Please allow me to think it through carefully. I hope you can forgive me.

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(End of this chapter)