Back to 1984: I built a chicken farm on a barren mountain.

"Anyone who needs salt, come and register with me! You can collect it when the village chief returns."

Accountant Wang washed his face and felt much refreshed. He then found a small booklet and prepared to make the registration.

But when he arrived at the conference room door, he found that all the people who had been blocking the way had left, not a single one was left.

It wasn't that everyone was left; to be precise, apart from the newly arrived Mr. and Mrs. Han, everyone else had left.

Han Laosi stood in front of the conference room window with an incredulous expression, staring blankly at the bags of salt piled up in the room, like a stone sculpture, motionless.

Standing next to Han Laosi, Li Dahua was also somewhat frightened and unsettled.

This was the first time Accountant Wang had seen Han Laosi act so dull. After all, Han Laosi was known for his stinginess in Chenjiazhuang, and usually he exuded a shrewdness.

"Fourth brother, do you and your wife need salt too?"

Accountant Wang broke the awkward silence by asking a question.

Han Laosi, regaining his composure, noticed that Accountant Wang's face was wet, as if she had just taken a shower. He suppressed his emotions and said:

"Accountant Wang, we just heard the village chief's broadcast and came to see what was going on."

"You're too late. There's no fun to be had. Quite a few people came earlier, but they all left while I was washing my face. If you need salt, you'll have to wait for the village chief to come back. That house is locked, and I don't have the key."

"It's alright, it's alright, you're busy, we're just looking around..."

Chicken Cry Mountain, north of the village.

After completing his mission, Hou Laizi took Pang Xiao to Jiming Mountain to report for duty, only to find that everyone had already gathered at the foot of the mountain, chatting around a cold stove.

The firewood under the stove was burning brightly, and an aluminum lid covered the pot, steaming and emitting a fragrant aroma. The lid was pushed up by the steam and moved from time to time.

Chen Wenfeng and Chen Youwei were chatting on two small stools, while Zhou Zhiming, Niu Da, and Niu Er, some sitting and some standing, chimed in.

When Chen Wenfeng saw Lai Zi and Pang Xiao enter the thorny circle, he quickly called them over and said:

"We're having chicken blood and vermicelli soup later. Zhiming and the others had some this morning and said it was delicious. We're planning to have it again for lunch, but this time there's not much chicken blood left, but we've added a lot of pork and vermicelli."

Hou Laizi and Pang Xiao were delighted to hear this and greeted the village chief and the others.

Chen Wenfeng asked Hou Laizi:

"You're here so quickly, is it done over there?"

Hou Laizi gave Chen Wenfeng a thumbs-up and said:

"Just like you and the village chief said, everything is going exactly as planned. When I came out of the village committee, I saw Han Lao Si and his wife entering the yard from afar. I really wanted to see their expressions, haha!"

Chen Wenfeng said:

"That couple is always trying to take advantage of others. This time, the Queen Mother of the West in our village is causing a huge disturbance, and it's definitely their doing."

Chen Youwei nodded approvingly and said:

"Wenfeng, your analysis back then was spot on. If people started spreading this story just because they had nothing better to do, that's understandable. But if someone kept an eye on it afterward, then they were making a profit from it."

"Uncle Youwei, they're reselling salt, why are you stopping them from reporting it!"

"Hey, we're all neighbors, did they really punish them for this? Besides, if he insists he didn't admit it, it was their own food! Let's be lenient."

When Chen Wenfeng heard Chen Youwei say this, he also looked helpless, knowing that it wasn't easy for him, the patriarch of Chen Family Village, as he had to take care of everything.

Chen Youwei said:

"Old Sun just showed me around. This place is already quite impressive. It's such a great spot, hidden in this corner. If others had known how good it was back then, they probably would have fought over it too!"

Chen Wenfeng knew that Chen Youwei had brought up the embarrassing situation of not being able to contract Jiming Mountain back then. It was precisely because this place was so desolate that he was able to get a bargain. So he said:

"Uncle Youwei, this place is what it is. The villagers say it's a godforsaken place. But from today onwards, Jiming Mountain will be different."

"Oh? How is it different?"

"As the ancients said, a mountain is not famous for its height, but for the immortals who dwell there; water is not sacred for its depth, but for the dragons that inhabit it. The village chief's presence is an honor to have you here!"

"You little rascal!"

Chen Youwei patted Chen Wenfeng on the shoulder with a smile, knowing full well that he was joking, but he was still quite happy inside.

Seeing that the chicken blood and vermicelli soup was almost ready, Chen Wenfeng called out into the house:

"Master Sun, bring out the steamed buns, let's eat!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Old Sun came over carrying a tray of steamed buns, which were steaming hot, white and soft.

Zhou Zhiming and Niu Dabian set up an octagonal table on the ground and arranged the stools.

Niu Er set out the bowls and chopsticks and took out more than a dozen bottles of beer from the mountain spring.

Master Sun took a large basin and ladled out the chicken blood and vermicelli soup, filling the basin to the brim.

Everyone took their seats, but no one touched their chopsticks, all looking at Chen Youwei.

Chen Youwei laughed heartily and said:

"I'm not the host today, so don't look at me."

Then everyone looked at Chen Wenfeng, who said:

"It's just family eating, no need for formalities, let's dig in!"

As soon as Chen Wenfeng finished speaking, everyone started eating.

Just as Chen Wenfeng had said, the chicken blood and vermicelli soup contained very little chicken blood. If the chicken blood was merely a gimmick, then the soup itself was also overrated, as it was far too thick.

The so-called soup contained large pieces of pork that took up almost half the bowl, along with a small amount of vermicelli and green vegetables.

Chen Youwei picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and said:

"Wenfeng, your meals are better than anyone else's during Chinese New Year."

"Consider today a celebration feast. I actually hope I make more money in the future so I can eat like this every day!"

"I hope that every household can have meals like this every day in the future."

"What a great village chief!"

Niu opened all the beer bottles, and everyone ate and drank at the same time.

Hou Laizi didn't drink the wine; he just kept his head down and ate meat and steamed buns. Niu Er asked him why he wasn't drinking.

Hou Laizi replied, "Because beer takes up too much space."

People burst into laughter again.

"I suddenly remembered something, Wenfeng, do you know that your third aunt's husband was poisoned by the medicine?" Chen Youwei said.

"Oh? I don't know." Chen Wenfeng had indeed never heard of this. His third aunt had married into a neighboring village, and the two families usually visited each other quite often.

Everyone was intrigued by the news of poisoning and listened quietly to Chen Youwei's explanation.

Chen Youwei continued:

"A few days ago, your third aunt's husband went to spray pesticides in the orchard. The pesticide was too concentrated, and the sprayer he was using was leaking. He was soaked before he finished spraying, and his head started to spin. He was incredibly thirsty. He already knew he was poisoned, but he knew his body wouldn't cooperate. There were two peach trees next to the orchard, and the peaches were ripe. He picked one, ate it, and then, still feeling thirsty, picked another one."

"Actually, he vaguely remembered that the peach tree had just been sprayed with pesticide while he was eating them, but he still couldn't resist eating two. This made the pesticide even stronger."

"And then what happened?" everyone asked worriedly.