"Of course, who do you think your man is? Am I the kind of person to waste money?" Jiang Changhai held his head high and said proudly.
"Yes, yes, you’re the greatest!"
After praising him with a cheerful smile, Su Wanyu asked, "By the way, Brother Hai, do you think we should buy some more fish and shrimp?"
Jiang Changhai raised his eyebrows with a look of someone who had a plan and said, "We do need to buy some, but not from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. We’re going back to the village tomorrow, and we can just have some folks from the village catch them from the river."
These days, everyone was craving fatty foods, and they weren’t interested in fish and shrimp – the leaner options. So, these items were particularly cheap at the market, only a few cents per pound.
By not buying from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and instead collecting from the villagers, they could give people in the village an opportunity to earn some extra money. He felt as if he was doing a good deed for his fellow villagers.
"Wife, I notice that Old Li’s House and Old Wang’s Family both have bicycles. How about I cut a watermelon and give half to each of them? That way, they might lend us their bicycles tomorrow to carry things back to the village," Jiang Changhai suggested.
"Sure, Brother Hai, I’ll go with you."
The couple each took half a watermelon and left to borrow the bicycles.
These two families had just been feeling a bit embarrassed that their kids were always going over to the Jiang Family’s house to do homework. Now that they came to borrow bicycles, they agreed without hesitation.
The night passed without incident, and the next afternoon, Yu Cheng drove back from the farm in a jeep. As soon as he got out of the vehicle, he attracted the full attention of the neighbors chatting under the tree not far away.
Upon seeing Yu Cheng enter the Jiang Family’s house, they immediately began to gossip.
"What does this kid do for a living? How come he arrives in a jeep?"
"Tsk, we hardly ever see a car in our town, let alone ride in one, and he comes in a jeep. He’s clearly no ordinary person."
"And look at the way the kid dresses, you can tell right away he’s from a wealthy family."
Aunt Li glanced at the jeep and suddenly remembered something Li Lan had mentioned a few days ago: the Jiang family’s new guest was from the Capital City.
Her initial reaction was that the kids were just messing around and boasting, so she didn’t take it seriously.
But now, seeing Yu Cheng being picked up and dropped off by the jeep, she couldn’t help but believe it.
Wang Li’s mother also seemed to recall what her child had said. Her expression grew more animated.
This Jiang Mianmian’s family came from a rural village, didn’t they? And they have relatives from the Capital City?
It seemed that this family was not so ordinary after all. She had to get on better terms with them; one never knew when they might come in handy, Auntie Li thought to herself.
Wang Li’s mother clearly shared Auntie Li’s thoughts.
Recalling yesterday’s visit from Jiang Changhai and his wife to borrow a bicycle, she said with a smile to the neighbors, "I’ve got some things to take care of at home and can’t chat anymore. I’ll head back first."
Once she returned home, she took the initiative to push her bicycle to the Jiang Family’s house.
Seeing this, Wang Li’s Mother, who was still sitting in the yard, quickly stood up and said, "Sister Li, wait up, I’ll go with you."
"Xiao Su, are you at home? I’ve brought the bicycle over for you." The two women pushed the bicycles into the courtyard, calling into the house.
"Ah, yes, I am. Sister Li, Sister Wang, this is really too kind of you, bringing it all the way here," Su Wanyu said, seemingly overwhelmed by their generosity.
"Oh, what’s there to be embarrassed about? I’d be just sitting at home doing nothing, anyway. Bringing it over earlier means you can use it sooner, right?" Aunt Li said enthusiastically.