It was three in the afternoon.
"Villagers, it's almost time."
"Everyone stop what you're doing. In ten minutes, the refrigerated truck for purchasing toon sprouts will arrive."
"The toon sprouts in your hands need to be inspected before they can be loaded onto the truck for payment. Because toon sprouts are prone to spoilage and rot, they can only be kept at our village for one hour."
"If you miss the time, they'll be worthless."
"Bring your toon sprouts in early, take your money home, no exceptions."
"If you delay, all your work for the day will be in vain!"
Xia Deya's serious tone warned the villagers against greed.
Many from outside the village, upon hearing this, suddenly realized the situation.
They hurried to find acquaintances and sent the toon sprouts in their hands to the Xiajiagou Village Committee.
Some, in their haste, sold their freshly picked toon sprouts for a pittance.
At the village committee.
A box-type refrigerated truck slowly drove into the courtyard.
Chen Zhiming was on the phone, coordinating with various department stores.
His deputy sat in a chair behind a table, sorting through cash with the village accountant, stacking piles of banknotes neatly.
"Uncle and Aunt, you don't need to be afraid. Just do as I taught you."
Before anyone arrived, Xia Xiangqian and his wife had already started to panic.
"Xiao Fan, we're really not cut out for this. Why don't you find someone else?" Xia Cui'e began to waver.
"Yes, Xiao Fan. We're all neighbors. If we're too strict, we'll offend people. If we're too lenient, the quality won't be guaranteed, and the buyers won't come back a second time. Wouldn't that ruin our own business!" Xia Xiangqian said with a distressed face.
"I've told you both many times, just do your job. Don't feel guilty about anyone," Lin Fan advised.
Xia Xiangqian and Xia Cui'e didn't know what else to say. They exchanged glances and nodded.
"Don't worry, I'll back you up. If anything comes up, talk to the secretary first. If he can't solve it, come to me. If all else fails, we'll part ways. Then we'll see who's in a hurry," Lin Fan said with a smile.
Xia Xiangqian was anxious. "Xiao Fan, please don't say that. No matter what, it's all for the people of Xiajiagou."
As the three spoke, villagers, carrying large bags and packages, gradually entered the village committee courtyard.
"Put them down first. Find your own spot to sort them. No old leaves, no stems, and none that have been squeezed."
Xia Deya greeted them, holding up a sample toon sprout for them to see.
"After sorting, take them to Xiangqian and his wife for inspection and packing, then weigh them and get paid. Understand?"
"Understood."
The stacks of cash on the table caught the villagers' attention. Seeing that there was real money to be made, they all perked up.
They didn't fear hard work or trouble, only the absence of money.
As more and more villagers arrived, there was no space to even move in the village committee courtyard.
Those who arrived later had to find an open space outside to quickly sort their toon sprouts.
Xia Xiangqian and Xia Cui'e, afraid of causing delays, had returned early. Under Chen Zhiming's guidance, they had already finished sorting their own toon sprouts and even pocketed the money.
The elderly couple had spent over three hours picking. After discarding the unsuitable parts, they were left with twenty-seven catties and six liang, earning a total of 1,656 yuan.
This made the couple overjoyed.
Including the sorting time, it was less than half a day.
They had never imagined that making money could be so simple.
Soon, the earliest arrivals had finished sorting.
Fearing that the toon sprouts would be crushed, they carried them directly on plastic sheets and placed them on the scale.
"Uncle Xiangqian, come and look at the toon sprouts we picked."
"Sister Cui'e, why are you doing this job?"
The villagers curiously observed Xia Xiangqian and Xia Cui'e.
"Lao Liu arranged it. We're too old to do anything else."
Xia Xiangqian didn't say much more, fearing jealousy.
The elderly couple meticulously inspected, picking out the substandard toon sprouts.
Chen Zhiming supervised nearby, occasionally offering pointers.
"Alright, let's weigh them," Xia Xiangqian said after seeking Chen Zhiming's approval.
"Ah, okay!" The villagers were immensely relieved and busied themselves packing their toon sprouts into the styrofoam boxes nearby.
Xia Xiangqian and his wife helped together, reminding them not to crush the delicate toon sprouts.
"Thirty-seven catties and two liang."
"Go sign for your money."
Xia Deya returned from his rounds and, seeing the excited villagers about to collect their money, loudly announced, "Don't leave after you get your money. We're holding a village meeting in Xiajiagou today."
He turned and reprimanded, "I see some of you are behaving terribly!"
"Some are fighting amongst themselves, and some are colluding with outsiders to steal our village's toon sprouts."
"If everyone acts like this, I think we'll be finished sooner or later!"
Some villagers lowered their heads guiltily, unable to meet Xia Deya's gaze.
"Next."
"Forty-six catties and more than half a liang."
"Two thousand two hundred and ten yuan and four mao. Please check if it's correct."
Although the accountant's voice was soft, the villagers were all paying attention.
Seeing that someone had indeed received over two thousand yuan, they were energized as if they had been injected with stimulants and sped up their sorting of their own toon sprouts.
"Don't worry about the four mao, just give me a round figure!" the seller of toon sprouts said with a beaming smile, waving his hand generously.
He counted his money, and as he turned, he almost bumped into Xia Xiangqian.
"Oh, Uncle Xiangqian."
"Thank you so much. You raised such a good daughter, and everyone is benefiting."
He patted Xia Xiangqian's shoulder excitedly.
"Not at all, it's all Xiao Fan's credit." Xia Xiangqian's face bloomed with a brilliant smile, his heart sweeter than honey, though he spoke humbly.
"It's all the same, your son-in-law is truly capable!" the man said with a hearty laugh, his joy evident on his face.
Xia Xiangqian and Xia Cui'e's expressions changed instantly.
"Don't talk nonsense. He's Xue'er's brother-in-law, not our son-in-law."
"It's all the same, all the same, they're relatives!"
"It's not right, it's not right!" Xia Cui'e quickly reminded.
"Someone is here for weighing. I won't bother you any longer."
The man suddenly thought that this elderly couple, working as inspectors, must not be doing it for free. The big boss buying the toon sprouts was their relative, who would believe there wasn't any extra benefit? He shook his head; these people were earning their money legitimately.
"Next."
"Thirty-eight catties and three liang."
"One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight..."
One enviously large sum after another was announced. Seeing others receive tangible cash, those behind them became anxious, fearing they wouldn't be accepted if they were too late.
"Xiangqian, Cui'e, your daughters are truly accomplished!"
"Your son-in-law is so successful!"
"No, no, that's not our son-in-law."
In less than half an hour, Xia Xiangqian and Xia Cui'e had explained dozens of times.
"Uncle Xiangqian, Sister Xue'er married into a good family. In our village, she's truly exceptional!"
"It's really not like that, Xiao Fan is not our son-in-law."
To curry favor with Xia Xiangqian and Xia Cui'e, who were in charge of inspection, people kept approaching them with flattering words.
The elderly couple explained until their mouths were dry, exchanging glances. Who started this rumor? How could they spread such nonsense! What if it got out?