My sister broke off her engagement to marry someone richer? My older sister married me and became in

For a filial son, money may be hard to earn, but his mother's health and well-being are more important.

Looking at him, Lu Qingshan's impression of the manager improved even more.

They value profit, but they value relationships even more.

This is the kind of person you should befriend.

He nodded, not making a definitive statement, after all, medicinal herbs are something that can be found by chance.

"Brother Zhao, I've noted this down. Things in the mountains depend on fate, I can't guarantee anything, but if I really come across them, I'll definitely save them for you."

"Hey! With you saying that, brother, I feel half relieved!"

Zhao Zhiqiang beamed and patted Lu Qingshan on the shoulder heavily. "I won't thank you enough. If you need anything in the county in the future, just come to the supply and marketing cooperative to find me!"

In an era when everything required ration coupons and supplies were extremely scarce, personal connections with supply and marketing cooperative managers were more valuable than money or ration coupons.

Human relationships are invisible and intangible, but in crucial moments, they are far more valuable than cold, hard cash.

Lu Qingshan did not shirk his responsibility and met Zhao Zhiqiang's gaze with composure.

He believed he could live up to this favor.

The three bid farewell to the hospitable Zhao Zhiqiang and slowly drove their oxcart, laden with goods, away from the county town.

The oxcart moved slowly, its wheels making rhythmic creaking sounds as they rolled on the dirt road.

The truck was piled high with brand-new large items: a Butterfly brand sewing machine, a Forever brand bicycle, and a Red Lantern brand radio. Zhao Zhiqiang had his men tie big red flowers on them, making them festive and eye-catching.

Lu Changgui sat on the edge of the bicycle, his hands sometimes touching the cold bicycle crossbar, sometimes touching the sewing machine head, as if he were still in a dream.

His palms were sweaty, and he had a hundred yuan and a few tickets left, which he carried in his pocket. They were heavy and made his heart race.

Old Liu, who was driving the cart, remained silent the whole way, occasionally cracking his whip, his eyes unconsciously glancing at the things on the cart, and making clicking noises under his breath.

"Shanzi, is it too conspicuous for us to go back like this?" Lu Changgui finally couldn't help but ask his son in a low voice.

Lu Qingshan leaned against the brand-new sewing machine, his expression calm.

"Dad, we earned the money through our own abilities, and we bought the things with money. They are given to Xiulan as a bride price and to add to the family's wealth. It's all aboveboard and we're not afraid of what others will think."

He paused, then said, "It's time for our Lu family to stand up straight."

Lu Changgui's lips moved, but he didn't say anything more. He just subconsciously straightened his back even more.

As the sun sets, it bathes the entire Hongshitun village in a golden glow.

When the oxcart, adorned with large red flowers and piled high with rice, appeared at the entrance of the village, the ladle in the hands of Li's wife, who was washing rice by the river, fell into the water with a "clatter".

"That...that's Old Liu's car? What's it carrying?"

The sharp-eyed young man took a closer look and exclaimed in disbelief, "Holy crap! A brand new bicycle!"

"And a sewing machine too!"

That shout was like setting off a firecracker.

The neighbors, those who had finished their work and were preparing to go home to cook, and those who were idly sewing shoe soles at their doorsteps, all poked their heads out.

"Let's go take a look!"

"Has the Liu family struck it rich?"

The crowd surged toward the entrance of the village.

When they saw that the Lu family father and son were sitting on the oxcart, and that the cart was loaded with brand-new, shiny large items, the entire village entrance fell silent for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, the crowd erupted in uproar.

"Three turns and one ring... How much does this cost? You'll need a ticket, right? Did they sell that pig from Qingshan?"

The sounds of discussion, exclamations, and gasps of surprise mingled together.

"That kid Lu Qingshan, he used to seem so carefree and irresponsible, but I never expected him to be so quietly accomplished. This time he's really made something of himself!"

"Absolutely! That's what they call 'a prodigal son's return is more precious than gold'! Who would have thought he had this ability?"

"Tsk tsk, look at this new car, look at all these bags and packages! Xiulan is such a lucky girl! After she marries him, she can just sit back and enjoy a life of luxury!"

In an instant, the villagers' attitudes completely changed, with envious murmurs rising and falling, mostly consisting of flattery and attempts to win them over.

Among the crowd, Zhao Laosan's face was the most unpleasant.

That morning he was cursing that the Lu family's pork wouldn't sell and would rot in their hands.

But now, not only did they sell it, they also brought back a truckload of possessions that he could never earn in his lifetime.

The villagers' envious gazes felt like slaps to his face.

Amidst the commotion, the oxcart finally arrived at the entrance of the Lu family compound.

Hearing the commotion, Wang Guifen and Grandpa Lu also came out.

When Wang Guifen saw the cart full of items decorated with big red flowers, she stopped in her tracks. She raised her hand to cover her mouth, and tears welled up and streamed down her face.

Looking at Lu Qingshan standing tall and straight, Wang Guifen felt that all the grievances and hardships she had endured over the years had finally given her hope for the future.

"His father... Shanzi..." Her voice trembled, unable to utter a complete sentence.

Old Master Lu, with his pipe in his mouth, walked to the oxcart and looked at each one.

He reached out his rough hands, touched the bicycle bell, and then tapped the wooden table of the sewing machine.

He lowered his head, pinched the bridge of his nose, and uttered only one word.

"it is good."

When Lu Changgui heard his father say "good," his eyes reddened. He grinned, revealing a set of yellow teeth, and smiled like a child.

The neighbors were still gathered around, refusing to leave and pointing and gossiping.

Everyone realized that the Lu family had truly made a fortune.

At the very back of the crowd, Zhao Laosan's face had turned from red to green, and then from green to black.

Looking at the happy family in the courtyard, and at the watch on Lu Qingshan's wrist that he could never even dream of owning, a surge of venomous anger rose from the bottom of his heart to the top of his head.

He quietly slipped out of the crowd, a sinister glint in his eyes.

Then, gritting his teeth, he turned his eyes and quickly walked towards the dirt road outside the village leading to the county town.

Wang Guifen stood at the gate of the courtyard, her hand still on the door frame, her eyes red and she couldn't bear to blink.

"Shanzi, did you really trade that wild boar for all this stuff?"

Sewing machine, bicycle, radio, watch, and bundles of fabric.

These things, placed in the Lu family courtyard, even made the courtyard walls look more presentable.

There were also a few disgruntled old men who stood far away, hurling insults at each other.

"A pig...can be exchanged for this? I don't believe it even if you beat me to death!"

"Could it be that they've been doing something shady in the city?"

Lu Qingshan remained expressionless and ignored the group.

Holding onto the carriage shaft with one hand, he steadily jumped off the carriage.

His father, Lu Changgui, also came down. Facing the fiery gazes of the villagers, he puffed out his chest and grinned, revealing his teeth.

He kept saying that Qingshan was amazing.

As Old Master Lu held his pipe, he naturally overheard some of the gossip.

His expression turned serious, his eyes swept over the crowd, and his tone was calm yet extremely authoritative.

"The Lu family may be poor, but they didn't steal or rob. They relied on the mountains for their livelihood and earned money through their own abilities."

"If anyone's jealous, they can go into the mountains and fight it themselves."

"These things were all earned by Qingshan himself, risking his life. Who has a problem with that!"