1977: The beginning of the blind date with the daughter of the king

Chapter 657 Talent!

Northeast China, Hulin, State-owned Forest Farm
At this moment, people are coming and going in the forest, busily sorting and packing the collected timber.

For people in Northeast China, the working season is only a few months each year. It's already mid-August, and winter will arrive again in another month, so this is the final sprint stage.

"Old Zhao, come on, take a break and have some water!"

In the open space of the forest farm, after the last truckload of timber was unloaded, Chen Aidang called his coworkers to sit on a wooden stump and took out his water bottle to gulp down a few mouthfuls of water.

"Phew, the weather's pretty nice today. By the way, Lao Zhao, how's that thing I asked you to inquire about last time? Did you get it?"

At this moment, Chen Aidang asked his coworker Zhao Jianguo.

Zhao Jianguo didn't react for a moment: "What's wrong?"

"About the old foreman, the old foreman who digs ginseng and gathers herbs, didn't you say your father-in-law's family had one?"

Chen Aiguo was speechless. Was Old Zhao really that forgetful?

Actually, Li Changhe hadn't entrusted him with the task, but when he returned to the village last time, he heard that the village's third uncle had helped Li Changhe buy some old ginseng, so he kept it in mind.

When it comes to medicinal herbs, their forest farm is the real powerhouse. Although most of the herbs have to be handed over, people can't resist their own selfish motives.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jianguo realized what was going on.

"Oh, right, I remember now, there was such a thing. I asked my wife to go back and ask, but they didn't reveal much."

"Besides, Lao Chen, you can't get this kind of information by asking. If you just ask but don't buy, who's going to tell you the inside story?"

"You're asking this for your younger brother?"

"Hey, I heard that the family your brother is marrying into is a high-ranking official family in Beijing. Is that true?"

Zhao Jianguo asked curiously at this moment.

There's nothing new in Northeast China; Chen Aiguo's "legendary" experience has already spread far and wide.

After all, they had taken in quite a few educated youth, but none of them had achieved the kind of remarkable turnaround that Chen Aiguo did, transforming from an old farmer in their remote area into a working-class person in Beijing.

As Chen Ai's blood relative, Chen Ai's party is the subject of much curiosity and attention.

On the one hand, Chen Aiguo's conflicts with his family made them gossip; on the other hand, in the past two years, Chen Aiguo's frequent sending of things to Beijing has also made him a laughing stock.

After all, they roughly knew what Chen Aidang's attitude was towards his younger brother and his wife years ago.

"They say he's a high-ranking official, but we don't know the specifics. However, he's definitely rich. Let me tell you, aside from anything else, the clothes my sister-in-law sends to her sister-in-law and my wife are all high-end imported fabrics."

"You can't find this kind of material in the department stores in Harbin. It feels so soft and smooth, it's so comfortable."

Having worked at the forest farm for so long, Chen Aidang naturally understood the hidden meaning behind these people's words—they were just waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

So he showed off without any hesitation.

"Old Chen, I'm not trying to be mean, but what's the use of sending a few clothes? They're not edible or wearable. If their family really has some high-ranking officials, you should ask them to help you out and pull some strings to get you promoted, so that you guys can benefit from it too!"

“Yeah, Lao Chen, let them pull some strings for you and get you promoted, so that bastard Zhou can be ousted. Then we brothers can enjoy the good life with you.”

Several other workers who had come to rest also chimed in with cheerful comments.

"Tch, you guys are the ones who picked up the sesame seeds but lost the watermelon."

“Let me tell you, the closer the relationship is, the more carefully you have to use your favors. I have to make my brother proud. Otherwise, these small favors might be easy for them, but they could have a long-term impact later.”

"Hey guys, when we do things, we need to have a long-term vision and a strategic perspective!"

Chen Aidang said this with great pride.

"Chen Aidang, there's a telegram and a package for you!"

Just then, someone shouted loudly from afar.

"coming!"

"It's probably a telegram from a patriot."

“Sigh, I already told him to just write a letter if he needs anything, but he’s just impatient and insists on sending a telegram.”

"Alright, guys, I'll go check the telegram first. You guys chat!"

Chen Aidang then got up triumphantly and walked towards the forestry station office.

Regardless of whether Chen Aiguo filmed it or not, let's show off in front of them first.

After Chen Aidang left, someone couldn't help but spit.

"Ugh, what a petty person who's gotten his way. When Chen Aiguo came to help him with his work before, he wouldn't even let him have a sip of water. Now he's putting on this act of brotherly hospitality. It's disgusting to watch."

"Otherwise, how could he become a live-in son-in-law? You just can't learn that shameless attitude."

"You know what, it seems the Chen family has this tradition. Chen Aidang is a good son-in-law, and Chen Aiguo is not bad either. They really have good taste."

"This is different. Back then, Chen Aiguo insisted on marrying that educated youth despite everyone's skepticism. Who would have thought that the educated youth's family would turn their fortunes around again?"

"That's just fate. Back in those days, who would be stupid enough to marry an educated youth?"

After a short while of discussion, Chen Aidang strode back.

"Alright, that's enough, Old Chen is back!"

Upon seeing this, the group stopped talking and then looked at Chen Aidang.

"Old Chen, look at you, you can't stop smiling. What's the good news?"

Zhao Jianguo then asked with a cheerful smile, completely forgetting that he was one of the people who had just mocked him.

"Don't say I didn't think of you guys when I had good news. If you know anyone here, ask around for me. I need the best old ginseng, motherwort, lingzhi and he shou wu. In short, the older the better. Money is no problem."

After Chen Aidang returned, he proudly addressed everyone.

Seeing Chen Aidang's attitude, the others were surprised: "Old Chen, did he receive the telegram and really intend to buy it?"

"Yes, my in-laws need it urgently, and they asked me to help them look for it."

"Don't worry, money is not a problem, we have other things too."

"see this!"

At this moment, Chen Aidang raised his wrist, which was hidden behind his back, and showed off the watch on his wrist. The gold and silver steel band and watch cover sparkled in the sunlight.

"Wow, a watch? What's this?"

Upon seeing the watch on Chen Aidang's wrist, someone exclaimed in surprise.

"A Roman watch, an imported one, bought for me by my second son."

"And this, have you seen it before?"

At this moment, Chen Aidang produced another banknote.

"What kind of money is this?"

The group examined it closely; it looked somewhat like money, but not quite.

"This is called a foreign exchange certificate. It is specially issued for foreign exchange. With it, you can buy things at the Friendship Store in the provincial capital."

"This was sent by my second son's wife to his sister-in-law so she could buy imported snacks for the child. She said things like chocolate would melt if sent by mail, so she gave him foreign exchange certificates so my husband could take the child to the provincial capital to buy them!"

"Old Chen, are they really going to buy those things this time?"

Several men stared at Chen Aiguo with eyes like hungry wolves, and asked earnestly. In the forest farm, who didn't have connections with the old foreman? Having spent years roaming the mountains, who hadn't hidden some valuables?

What are they hiding all this for? Isn't it just waiting for a chance to make a fortune?

"Yes, it's settled this time, so if you have any good stuff, hurry up and get it out. They urgently need it and that's why they asked me to help them collect it. Once this opportunity is gone, it might not come again."

"Alright, I'll talk to you guys now. I'm packing my things and heading back. I took the afternoon off, and I'll make up for the missed work later!"

Chen Aidang packed up his tools and prepared to leave.

"Okay, you can go now, but you don't need to make up for the work. It's just a little bit of work, we'll do it for you, it's not a big deal."

At this moment, Zhao Jianguo decisively spoke up.

They might look down on him in private, but now that he's clearly connected with the capital, they have to change their attitude. After all, he can buy good stuff at high prices.

Zhao Jianguo's father-in-law's family also has a piece of wild purple Ganoderma lucidum of extremely high quality. This is the best medicinal variety of Ganoderma lucidum. If he resells it, he can make thousands of yuan.

The others adopted a similar attitude to Zhao Jianguo at this point, after all, despite their mockery, he was genuinely rich now.

Foreign exchange certificates!

This is the first time they've met.

Seeing their explanation, Chen Aidang didn't refuse and agreed to cover for him.

He then quickly returned home with the package and telegram, where his wife had just picked up the children from school.

"Why are you back in the middle of the day?"

Generally speaking, the forest farm has a canteen, where they eat lunch and go home in the evening.

"Well, something's happened, but it's great news!"

"Aiguo sent a telegram and even sent us some things, look!"

Chen Aidang flashed the Roman watch on his wrist, then immediately smiled and recounted the matter Chen Aiguo had entrusted to him to Zhou Lili.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Lili looked enviously at the Roman watch on Chen Aidang's wrist.

She doesn't even own an imported watch. She had previously saved up a Shanghai brand women's watch, which her father got her through a watch voucher.

"So what brings you back this time?"

"Aiguo asked me to tell Uncle San too. I was thinking of rushing back to the village this afternoon to tell Uncle San and ask him to help with the harvest."

Chen Aidang said with a grin.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Lili pouted and said, "You really want to go back and show off, that's for sure."

"That's perfect, I'll go back with you!"

"You're going back too? What are you going back for? Don't you dislike going back?"

Chen Aidang looked at Zhou Lili with some surprise.

Zhou Lili looked at Chen Aidang and said irritably, "I'll go back and tell your parents not to shamelessly write letters to the capital."

"If you go back and brag about it, don't you think they'll feel good about it?"

“It’s fine if they’re angry, but if they’re not satisfied and write to the Aiguo couple in the capital demanding this and that, then all our efforts will be in vain.”

"We finally managed to improve our relationship with Aiguo and his wife, and now they're ruining it again. Can you accept that?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Aidang also felt that his wife made sense. If his parents saw these things, they might actually speak up.

They are still their parents, and it's hard to say what will happen to Chen Aiguo's side. But if they grit their teeth and give it to him, won't the debt be held against them later?

“Lily, you’re right. We should go back and remind our parents.”

"Well, not only will I say it, but you'll have to too. We finally managed to build a good relationship with the second brother's family, and they've just gotten us to do something for us. If they mess things up again, how terrible would that be?"

"Also, what did I say before? Look, as long as his brother takes a bite out of you, even the little bit he gets through his fingers is more than what we've paid out of our pockets."

"A Roman watch costs at least three hundred yuan, and with two hundred foreign exchange certificates, that's five hundred yuan in total. That's more than half a year's income for you."

"This is just the beginning. Once things are really settled, I reckon Xiaojun will have to send more things here."

"Oh right, wait a minute, you just said they also wanted motherwort and angelica?"

"you say."

Zhou Lili hesitated at this moment.

"say what?"

Chen Aidang was somewhat curious.

Zhou Lili was too lazy to argue with Chen Aidang; these were all for women's use.

"Motherwort and angelica are used by women, especially motherwort. This stuff is usually used by women during their postpartum period. Taking it can help expel some lochia. But never mind, you wouldn't understand these things."

"I'm just guessing, is someone over there pregnant?"

Zhou Lili said thoughtfully at this moment.

Upon hearing this, Chen Aidang was somewhat surprised: "You mean Li Xiaojun is pregnant again?"

"It might not be Li Xiaojun. With such a big fuss, I suspect it's not Li Xiaojun, but rather her younger brother Li Changhe's wife who is pregnant."

“Think about it, Li Xiaojun has been lukewarm towards us these past two years, and her responses have been limited to superficial interactions. But this time, she gave us a Roman watch and foreign exchange certificates.”

"What does this mean? It means that she, or rather her whole family, values ​​it very much."

"And regarding this level of attention, do you think it's more likely to come from Li Xiaojun or Li Changhe?"

Zhou Lili asked seriously.

Upon hearing this, Chen Aidang nodded in understanding: "You know what, now that you analyze it, it really makes sense!"

"Judging by his age, Li Changhe is probably around twenty-five or twenty-six. He must be married by now and probably has children by now."

"Okay, let's go home first, settle things there, and then I'll call Xiaojun again."

“If Li Changhe’s family really has a child, then I will take our son to the capital.”

“I will personally go to the capital to congratulate them, and bring them some delicacies. I don’t believe I can’t get this relationship back.”

Upon seeing the Roman watch and foreign exchange certificates, Zhou Lili became even more determined to cultivate a good relationship with the Li family.

No, it's not just about building a good relationship; we need to go further and become "real relatives."

If Li Changhe, who was far away in the capital, had heard Zhou Lili's analysis, he would definitely have given her a thumbs up. This woman is really a genius!

Unfortunately, he didn't know.

While he was bored in the capital, he drove to the city center and then arrived at a courtyard house in the inner city.

This is where Zhang Shiqi lives.

He came to see Old Zhang mainly to talk to him about going abroad to collect antiques.

However, before he could even speak, Zhang Shiqi gave him a huge surprise!

(End of this chapter)