Reborn in the 1980s: Nine Stunning Beauties Get Pregnant Before Marriage

The next morning, Chen Yongqiang made up an excuse to go up the mountain alone.

He respectfully lit three incense sticks in front of the mountain god temple, then flashed into the system space.

In the one-acre field, the crops are growing well.

The golden corn cobs were heavy and bent over, and the sweet potato rows had already cracked open.

With a thought, he soon amassed a small mountain of harvest.

"We won't have to worry about food this year."

Chen Yongqiang neatly stacked the newly harvested grain in a corner of the space, and then took out the prepared wheat and potatoes and planted them.

When the inspection reached the two plots to the east, the rouge rice was in the grain-filling stage, with the ears of rice showing a faint rose-red luster. It would be some time before it could be harvested.

After finishing all that, he came to the disease-resistant apple tree, which was as tall as a person, in the center of the space.

I took out the scissors and selected a few sturdy branches.

Lacking glassware, he brought over the wooden basin he usually used for kneading dough and cut the branches into dozens of cuttings.

The spring water was poured into the basin, and the tender green branches swayed gently in the water.

"If it can successfully sprout, then we'll really be rich."

Chen Yongqiang placed the wooden basin next to the spring, where the spiritual energy was strongest.

After doing all this, he squatted down by the basin and observed carefully. He saw tiny bubbles gradually appearing at the cut, as if the branch was breathing.

After leaving the space, Chen Yongqiang returned to the village and went straight to find the village chief, Yang Dahai.

"Village chief, I plan to build a water reservoir on the wasteland I contracted. Once it's full of water during the rainy season, the land will be ready for cultivation next year."

"Repairing a water tank?" Yang Dahai squatted on the threshold and tapped his pipe. "That's a huge project."

"That's why I came to you for help in arranging things and seeing if anyone in the village is willing to do it. The wages will be calculated according to the market rate, and I will definitely not pay less." Chen Yongqiang's tone was sincere, but he didn't intend to pay more; he would pay whatever was due.

Yang Dahai stood up and sized up this young man who had been surprising lately: "Alright, how many people do you need?"

"It'll take at least twenty or thirty people," Chen Yongqiang had already planned. "We need to dig the pond before spring plowing."

"Great!" Yang Dahai tucked his pipe behind his waist. "I'll go ring the bell under the big locust tree right now, and I'll have everyone ready by noon."

Chen Yongqiang's investment is worthwhile. Once the pool is completed and spring water is introduced for irrigation, that wasteland will become a true treasure trove.

"I'm determined to be the first household in the village to earn 10,000 yuan."

In the afternoon, a number of villagers indeed gathered under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village.

During the off-season, most able-bodied men are idle, and the more diligent ones usually go to neighboring villages or towns to do odd jobs. As soon as they hear there is work in the village, they all gather there.

Yang Dahai cleared his throat: "Quiet down, everyone! Yongqiang has contracted that piece of wasteland at the west end of the village and plans to build a reservoir so it will be easier to cultivate next year. We need to hire people to work there, and the wages will be paid immediately!"

The villagers immediately began whispering among themselves, their biggest concern being their wages.

Someone called out, "Village chief, what's the exact price? Is it calculated by the day or by the cubic meter of earth?"

Chen Yongqiang had already made his plans. In the early 1980s, it was considered good if rural workers were given a meal and a few cents. But he had to meet the deadline and ensure quality, so he couldn't be too stingy.

"Fellow villagers, this is quite a job. We'll pay you by the day, including lunch, and one yuan a day! Anyone willing to do it, bring your shovels and pickaxes and meet at the wasteland at the west end of the village first thing tomorrow morning!"

As soon as the price was announced, a buzz of noise erupted from the crowd.

One yuan a day, including meals, was a pretty good price at the time. It was no worse than doing odd jobs in town, and it saved you the trouble of traveling.

Immediately, people started clamoring to sign up, and the scene became lively.

"Yongqiang, count me in!"

"I'll be there tomorrow without fail!"

"I can do this job!"

Led by several honest and hardworking men from the village, such as Zhang Laonian and Li Tiezhu, more than 20 people immediately signed up and surrounded Chen Yongqiang to ask about the specific arrangements for tomorrow.

But there were also some dissenting voices among the crowd.

Squatting in the corner, He Jun muttered to Liu Qiaozhu next to him, "Hmph, what a waste of time! They think building a pond on that barren wasteland will turn it into fertile land? That's just empty talk!"

"Exactly, whether we'll even get the money is another matter, let's not work for nothing."

Chen Yongqiang had sharp ears and heard all these sarcastic remarks clearly.

His face remained expressionless, but his mind was perfectly clear.

Chen Yongqiang did not reprimand them verbally, but silently crossed the two names off his mental list.

His gaze then fell upon the villagers who responded enthusiastically, their eyes radiating sincerity and drive. These were the first group of people he could rely on in the future, the ones he was prepared to lead to prosperity.

"Alright, anyone who wants to come, I, Chen Yongqiang, welcome them!" He ignored the noise.

Chen Yongqiang returned to his courtyard, and Qin Shan followed him in: "Yongqiang, repairing the pond is a big deal, and our family wants to do our part."

He knew in his heart that once the pond was repaired, his contracted land would also benefit.

Chen Yongqiang needed reliable manpower: "Uncle Qin, you've come at the right time. So many villagers are coming tomorrow, and we need someone dependable to help take care of them. Could you help me take charge of this?"

He intended for Qin Shan to be the foreman, as it would make the work easier and also show him respect.

Qin Shan hesitated for a moment before agreeing: "Okay, I'll keep an eye on it for you."

"My two younger sisters shouldn't be idle either. Starting tomorrow, they should help prepare lunch for more than thirty people. I'll provide the ingredients." He figured that the newly harvested corn and sweet potatoes in his space would come in handy.

Qin Shan knew he was benefiting from Chen Yongqiang's influence, but his family was currently destitute, so he could only repay Chen Yongqiang later.

The next day, just as dawn broke, Chen Yongqiang and Qin Shan carried their tools to the top of the barren mountain at the west end of the village.

Qin Shan looked around and asked, "Comrade Yongqiang, these hills all look pretty much the same. Where do you plan to build the pond?"

"We need to find a place that can hold water." Chen Yongqiang pretended to be deep in thought, but his eyes were carefully searching the wasteland.

He remembered that the system had indicated the direction of the spring's flow, but the exact location still needed to be confirmed.

The two walked on the compacted soil, searching on the mountaintop. Just as Qin Shan was about to suggest searching in the lower-lying areas, Chen Yongqiang suddenly stopped.

Amidst the gray and yellow landscape ahead, a cluster of tender green wild grass sprouted.

This new greenery stands in stark contrast to the surrounding desolate landscape.

"Uncle Qin, this is it." Chen Yongqiang squatted down. The soil was moist and soft to the touch, completely different from the compacted soil around it.

He was certain that this was the channel nourished by the spring.

Qin Shan also noticed the abnormality of the place: "Strange, everywhere else is dry and cracked, but this place is wet."

He tentatively dug down with a shovel, but after digging only half a foot deep, the head of the shovel brought out dark, wet mud.

"Looks like we've found the right place." Chen Yongqiang stood up.

He drew a circle with a twig in the area where weeds were growing. "The pool will be built here. With the moisture in the ground, storing water will be much more efficient."

Looking at the location of the stakes, Qin Shan couldn't help but sigh, "Comrade Yongqiang has a better eye for finding places than we agricultural workers do."

The sounds of villagers laughing and talking came from the foot of the mountain, and the figures of people carrying tools could be vaguely seen walking up the mountain.

A new day has begun, and this long-silent wasteland is about to experience unprecedented liveliness.