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

Han Laosi has been busy with the soy sauce factory lately, while Li Dahua worries about the pile of eggs every day.

Days passed by like flowing water, and the thing Han Laosi had said about someone coming to collect eggs still hadn't happened.

That evening, Han Laosi returned home, and Li Dahua made him his favorite chive dumplings. Han Laosi ate them with his hands, his hands getting oily. Taking advantage of Han Laosi's enjoyment of the meal, Li Dahua seized the opportunity to ask:

"Master, Shouyi's eldest son still hasn't come to collect our eggs."

Han Laosi had just finished eating one leek pancake and was about to reach for another when he heard Li Dahua say this. He froze, and his hand stopped in mid-air.

Li Dahua continued:

"I've been in the village these past two days, and I haven't heard of anyone from Jiming Mountain looking for eggs in the village."

"This shouldn't be happening!"

Han Laosi felt there was definitely something fishy about this. There were practically no eggs left anywhere. The chickens in the chicken farms, big and small, weren't even laying eggs anymore; they were barely clinging to life. Something was definitely wrong.

After hearing Li Dahua's words, Han Laosi finally began to have doubts. He looked at Li Dahua's unappetizing face and said nothing more. He then walked out with his hands behind his back.

Han Laosi didn't return until it was completely dark.

Li Dahua had something to say, but seeing Han Laosi's face, which was as black as the bottom of a pot, she swallowed back the words she was about to say.

Han Laosi went to bed very early that day.

The next morning, Han Laosi went to the state-owned chicken farm in the county town.

To be fair, Han Laosi was quite capable. He had dealt with the state-owned chicken farm long ago. This time, as a farmer-entrepreneur from the town, he quickly met with the person in charge of sales at the chicken farm under the pretext of buying eggs.

The person in charge valued such a major client and introduced the relevant information about the state-owned chicken farm to Han Laosi. Han Laosi listened patiently as the other party explained the history, scale, technology, and existing breeds and numbers of chickens at the chicken farm.

The more Han Laosi listened, the more uneasy he felt. He had expected to see sickly chickens, but the chickens at the state-owned chicken farm were all very energetic. What was going on?

The person in charge asked Han Laosi:

"Mr. Han, how many eggs are you planning to order? We also have broiler chickens, you can consider that too."

Han Laosi coughed a few times to cover up his inner panic, mentally prepared what he wanted to say, suppressed his unease, and said:

"National Chicken Farm is indeed exceptionally capable. Seeing your strength, I think I can order more than I originally planned, but I need to go back and discuss it with my partner."

"No problem, it's all arranged. Just coordinate with Xiao Wang, Xiao Wang, Xiao Wang!"

Seeing that Han Laosi hadn't placed an order on the spot, the person in charge was a little disappointed and became less enthusiastic. He then called over a young man to continue negotiating with Han Laosi.

"Excuse me, Mr. Han."

The person in charge left without even turning his head. Han Laosi thought to himself, "These people at the state-owned chicken farm are all so arrogant."

Xiao Wang was quite polite to Han Laosi. Seeing that the other party was simple and young, Han Laosi started to chat about this and that, trying to get some information out of him.

To everyone's surprise, Xiao Wang was very cheerful and straightforward, and took the initiative to bring up the chicken plague incident that had occurred some time ago.

Han Laosi was overjoyed and asked:

"I've heard about it too; it caused quite a stir a while ago. Hopefully, it hasn't affected our area much!"

"It was affected. At first, the chickens stopped laying eggs, and then some chickens died."

"But I see quite a few chickens!"

"After all, our state-owned enterprises are large in scale, so the death of some won't affect the fundamentals."

"So, how's the situation now?"

"There are no problems now, it's all resolved!"

"Resolved?"

"Yes, at first the technicians tried all sorts of methods, like feeding them medicine and disinfecting, but nothing worked. Then they consulted an expert who suggested ventilation. After increasing ventilation, no more chickens died."

Has egg production recovered?

"It's recovered. Apparently, it was an idea suggested by a friend of the leader, and it's said to have come from Qiwang Town. It's very effective. However, I don't know much about it; the leader said it's a secret recipe."

Qiwang Town? Isn't the largest chicken farm in Qiwang Town Jimingshan?

Han Laosi seemed to understand a little bit; he had really underestimated Chen Wenfeng.

When Han Laosi returned to Chenjiazhuang, Li Dahua saw her husband come back and hurriedly asked:

"Honey, how is it?"

Seeing Li Dahua's appearance, Han Laosi was furious and cursed:

"You jinxed it, you were right! The egg got smashed in my hand."

Li Dahua: "..."

The Chenjiazhuang Village Committee meeting was, as usual, a small meeting arranged by Chen Youwei. However, this time there were very few attendees; besides Chen Youwei, only Chen Wenfeng and Han Laosi were present.

History has repeated itself in a striking way once again.

"Wenfeng, I need your help again this time, about the eggs..."

"no problem!"

Chen Wenfeng's straightforwardness surprised Han Laosi a bit. Han Laosi said:

"I mean I want you to buy the eggs I've acquired."

"No problem, the market price is fine."

Chen Wenfeng's answer remained crisp and direct. Han Laosi was about to say something more when Chen Wenfeng continued:

"I'll buy it at the market price, but I need you to give me 50 yuan for my services."

Chen Wenfeng made his point very clear: he didn't want to waste any more words arguing with Han Laosi about the unit price and weight, but instead told him directly that he wanted to make 50 yuan off him.

"If you agree, that's fine; if you don't, then forget it."

Damn it, 50 yuan! Han Laosi's heart was bleeding. He looked at Chen Youwei, hoping Chen Youwei could help mediate.

Chen Youwei, however, seemed to be doing it on purpose, chatting and laughing with Chen Wenfeng for a while, and then going outside to get a drink of water.

"Can't you make it cheaper? I'm losing 50 yuan this time!"

"If I don't buy your eggs, you'll lose more than just 50 yuan."

Chen Wenfeng responded calmly, giving Han Laosi almost no room for negotiation.

At this moment, Chen Youwei came in from outside, holding a bag of tea leaves, and said with a smile:

"I just got some jasmine tea. You two are so lucky to have some. It's the Jinghua brand. Accountant Wang asked me for some several times, but I couldn't bear to let him have any. It's only because you two came that I finally felt comfortable taking it out."

Han Laosi watched Chen Youwei make tea and said:

"Village chief, no need to bother, Wenfeng and I will be back soon."

"Have you reached an agreement?"

Teacher Han couldn't help but curse Chen Youwei in her heart over and over again, "You old fox!" She said:

"I guess we've reached an agreement. Wenfeng, I'll do as you said and bring the eggs over right now."

As the aroma of jasmine tea wafted through the air, Han Laosi got up to say goodbye.

Chen Wenfeng picked up his cup, blew away the floating tea leaves, took a sip while it was still hot, and said:

"Uncle Youwei, this tea smells wonderful!"

"It must smell delicious. I would only make it for other people, but this fourth brother just left without a word, what a waste of the cup I made for him."

"No waste, I'll drink his!"

When Han Laosi returned home in a huff, he found Zheng Erli already waiting for him.

"Erli, is something wrong?"

Zheng Erli said:

"Fourth Brother, there's a small problem at the soy sauce factory!"