"Yang kid, the foundation is laid, but the bricks aren't fired yet. Today, I'll go into town with you. Ten big buckets packed full, that's probably over four thousand catties."
"It's too tough for Xue'er and Yan Yan to follow you in this scorching sun. Let them stay home and gather some wild vegetables to feed the chicks."
After Shen Fuguo disciplined Shang Dabiao, more and more people from nearby brigades naturally started bringing him fish.
The aquatic product acquisition, which Chen Yang thought wouldn't increase, actually went up a bit, estimated to have broken the four-thousand-jin mark.
However, this was the limit. They had been fishing for almost a week, and the small ponds and ditches, places where fish were easy to catch, were probably depleted.
Even though many people in Shenjiaba Village had learned to buy fishing nets, the fish in the Liu River were not that easy to catch anymore.
"Alright, Dad."
"Do you have something on your mind? We're father and son, just say it, no need to beat around the bush."
After the wild boar incident yesterday, Chen Yang's relationship with his father-in-law had actually improved significantly.
During these days, his father-in-law, who had never given him a good look in his previous life, practically treated him like a son.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been running around to help Chen Yang with the house construction. Although Chen Yang had brought him honor, the old man's hands-on involvement...
If he didn't truly consider Chen Yang his son, he wouldn't have worked so hard.
Chen Yang could tell that his father-in-law had something on his mind today.
"Yesterday, the commune office notified us about the educated youths returning to the city. What are your thoughts on this?"
Shen Futang took out the pipe tucked into his waist, pinched a handful of tobacco leaves, and stuffed them into the bowl. He struck a match and took a deep puff.
Even though Chen Yang had bought him cigarettes, he was reluctant to smoke them in front of others.
"Dad, what other thoughts can I have? I'm already married, so naturally, I'll stay with Xue'er and Yan Yan."
"If I have money in the future, going to the city will be as easy as saying it. You should also try to persuade Xue'er more. She's being stubborn. Today she even threatened to divorce me, and it scared Yan Yan into crying."
Chen Yang thought, so that's what it was. It seemed his father-in-law was also worried that he would abandon Shen Xue and run back to the city. After all, in his father-in-law's eyes, he had always been determined to go to college and return to the city.
Hearing Chen Yang's words, Shen Futang stared at him intently.
"You kid, you've suddenly changed like a different person. I can't quite figure you out anymore."
Shen Futang stared directly at Chen Yang, making Chen Yang feel a bit uneasy. Wasn't he a different person? He had just become an old man who had lived two lifetimes.
"Oh, right. Someone from the commune office came. It was your eldest brother-in-law. He said your eldest cousin got a job at the food factory. He came to deliver a message from the commune and also invited me and your second uncle to a banquet today. He even brought two catties of white flour."
"Your eldest aunt's family has treated us well. Your brother-in-law works at the fertilizer plant and can get some fine grains, which he sometimes secretly brings to me and your second uncle."
"He doesn't know yet that you've made a fortune selling fish and don't lack food. Your eldest cousin has joined the aquatic products company this time, so we should go and give him a gift. After you sell the fish and come back, let's call your second uncle and go together."
Shen Futang tapped his pipe. He was grateful for his eldest sister's family, who had married into the county town.
His own father had died early, leaving the ancestral winery and returning to his hometown. He was only fifteen then. As the eldest brother, he had raised his younger brother and two sisters.
His eldest sister married into a worker's family in the county town, and she was living a good life. His youngest sister was even better off, married to a leader in the commune. His brother-in-law was said to be capable, perhaps he would become a significant official in the future.
However, compared to his youngest sister, he still preferred his eldest sister's family. They weren't condescending like some city dwellers, nor did they look down on their poor relatives. They often helped out.
"Okay, Dad. Let's buy two catties of meat, bring two bottles of wine, and two packs of cigarettes to celebrate for eldest cousin."
Regarding Shen Xue's aunt's family, in his previous life, he had only met them on the day he married Shen Xue, and afterward, they had had minimal contact.
But listening to his father-in-law, he recalled that back then, when the baby girl was just born, his father-in-law would bring some fine grains periodically.
He had found it strange at the time, given the conditions in Shenjiaba Village, where could they get fine grains? Now he realized, it was probably these relatives who had secretly sent them.
"It's good that you have your priorities straight. Get the two catties of meat cut separately. You're making two portions of everything, aren't you? If you bring so much, how will your second uncle manage?"
"Your eldest aunt's family has sent things to our maternal home quite a bit over the years. Your second uncle has always secretly hidden it from your second aunt and given the fine grains to you and Xue'er first. He's my brother, and I know he's family."
Shen Laifu finished his tobacco in one breath, knocked the ash out of his pipe, and tucked it back into his waist.
"Don't worry, Dad, I have a plan. I won't embarrass Uncle."
Chen Yang looked at his father-in-law's straight back. In reality, no matter how straight he stood, it couldn't hide his aging, slightly stooped posture, which made Chen Yang's heart ache.
The old man was the eldest in his family. He had raised his younger siblings from a young age. He was proud and wouldn't want to be indebted.
As the elder brother, not only did he not take care of his siblings, but how could he let them subsidize him.
However, his daughter had given birth to a granddaughter, and he couldn't get her good things to supplement her body. His son-in-law was also not promising, so he had to accept the kindness of his eldest sister's family.
His own brother also knew that the good things from his eldest sister's family were secretly hidden from his wife and directly given to Shen Xue's family through him.
He was like a patriarch in feudal times, considering all aspects, the dignity and face of his brothers and sisters were all meticulously taken care of.
This was also why his eldest son-in-law was now successful. He truly considered this son-in-law as half a son. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said these things to Chen Yang.
...
"Yan Yan, be good at home and listen to Mommy. Gather wild vegetables with Mommy to feed the chicks. When the chicks grow up, they'll lay eggs for Yan Yan, okay?"
After explaining to Shen Xue about going to their eldest aunt's house to give gifts, Chen Yang hugged the baby girl again.
"Daddy, Yan Yan will be good and listen to Mommy."
The baby girl nodded her head like pounding garlic. She loved the chicks her daddy bought her. They were fluffy and super cute.
Leaving her with Shen Xue, Chen Yang and his father-in-law slowly headed towards the county town, pulling the donkey cart.
"Your eldest cousin is quite lucky. It's not easy for ordinary people to get into the food factory. Your eldest aunt's family are all good people. Good people are rewarded."
Liu Chunmei naturally knew the character of her sister-in-law's family and was happy for them.
"Chen Yang seems to have a good relationship with Director Wang of the aquatic products station at the food factory. Later, I'll ask him to introduce you to eldest cousin and ask which workshop he joined in the food factory. Maybe we can get some support in the future."
Shen Xue said it almost instinctively. Because when she had gone to the aquatic products station with Chen Yang before, Director Wang had spoken to Chen Yang very warmly.
However, as soon as she finished speaking, she realized a problem. Whether it was her, her daughter, her parents, or even now her second uncle and eldest aunt.
Their whole family had become dependent on Chen Yang!
Would she really be willing to let Chen Yang leave her? Shen Xue's heart wavered again regarding her thoughts from last night.