"Just build a big gate? As long as it doesn’t rain, I can get it done for you in three to five days!" Upon hearing Yan Fei say that he’s not in a rush to build a house, but just needs a big gate, Ma Yongming immediately agreed.
"Doesn’t it also need tiling?" Xu Xiaoyan couldn’t help but ask curiously. If Yan Fei were discussing something with a stranger, this girl would never interrupt. But she’s familiar with Ma Yongming, so she asked an extra question.
"It’s because of the tiling that it’ll take three to five days. If no tiling is needed, I can have it done in two days. It’s that simple!" Ma Yongming explained. "What do you think of my gate? Just add a few big characters on the top of the gate. The writing is simple, you can just have someone write it and give it to me. Don’t worry about the rest, even though our workers seem crude, they can replicate it exactly as you want!"
"That’s good, but my gate needs to be big and grand. I estimate that the surrounding villages probably can’t source a few hundred calves for me anymore. I need to get a large truck to bring in cattle from counties in the west! That truck should be able to enter when it returns." Yan Fei put forth his requirements.
"No problem, just show me the dimensions you want for the gate, and we will build according to that height. You design the characters for the top of the gate. As long as you can provide the measurements, we can guarantee it will be stylish and unobstructed, and any vehicle can enter." Ma Yongming spoke with confidence about his small construction team.
After leaving Ma Yongming’s house, Xu Xiaoyan praised, "I can’t believe how skilled their construction team has become!"
Yan Fei, who knew them well, said, "They do this every day, the construction requirements in our village are not high, they just practice on those buildings, it’s just more work and less pay. He also takes his workers to see how buildings are constructed in the city, learning new techniques. This is why his construction team is growing! He has taken over more than half of the jobs in the village."
Xu Xiaoyan nodded, "That’s true, people in the past constructed high-rise buildings without machinery. The working people are the most glorious!"
Yan Fei laughed, "Those who make a living from crafts, if they don’t constantly improve their skills, they’ll starve. If our family could forge divine weapons like Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, I might have inherited the blacksmith shop instead of raising cattle now!"
"Do you still think about your blacksmith shop?"
"Of course, I’m a hereditary blacksmith, and this craft cannot die with me. Sooner or later, I will reopen the blacksmith shop. Then you’ll be waiting to fan the bellows for me!" Yan Fei bragged, before remembering the task at hand. "Right, we’re still going to take the train to the Provincial City tonight! It won’t delay your class tomorrow."
"I don’t feel like going anymore!" Xu Xiaoyan muttered.
"What’s up?" Yan Fei asked curiously.
"I’ve finished learning that syllabus long ago. Now when I attend classes, I treat them like self-study periods. I read whatever books I want. How do you think I know so much? I learned all that from reading every book in the library. I’ve also learned a lot of economic knowledge, preparing for a double degree when I graduate." Xu Xiaoyan whispered, "I don’t need to stay in school every day for these course, you’ve been so busy these days, I want to stay home and help you."
Yan Fei rode his bike silently with his head down, causing the girl to feel uncomfortable: "If you don’t agree then forget it, I’ll just go back with you. I just think there are also many things to learn at home. I’ve studied enough theoretical knowledge at school, now I..." and she trailed off.
"No, I’m just wondering if you won’t have anything to do if you don’t go to school?" Yan Fei said. "Actually, I’m not really that busy either, there are plenty of people on the farm now. Those who come to take the cattle are usually well-behaved, they don’t create any trouble. If you want to stay home for a few days, just don’t let it affect your studies."
"Don’t worry! I’m someone who could win a scholarship, I won’t neglect my studies!" The girl said excitedly. "I’ll take... a ten... or fifteen-day leave. When I spend all these five hundred thousand at home, we’ll see."
It seems this truancy thing is contagious! Yan Fei finally led his wife astray...
"Alright, let’s go withdraw the money first. Then you organise those documents at home, draft some cooperation agreements, and write out the characters needed for the top of the gate. I’ll go to the county town to check out which of the local cattle markets are good. If it’s not fruitful, we can contact a large truck. We’ll set off early tomorrow morning to spend money..." Yan Fei said, as he started to speed up his bike.
The Credit Cooperative staff had been waiting for the two of them! The small Credit Cooperative had never lent out so much money. Even though they knew there wouldn’t be a problem, they felt uneasy holding on to so much money!
After Yan Fei counted the money, he put it into a bag and handed it to Xu Xiaoyan: "I’ll ride the bike, you hold the money."
The girl picked up the bag and was surprised: "Wow, the money is heavy when it’s a lot, isn’t it? This must be over ten catties, right?"
"Don’t think it’s heavy, if it could be carried back to our home, none of the people in our house would think it’s tiring!" Director Yao said happily. "Many people have never seen so much money! Even our Credit Cooperative doesn’t hold this much money normally. We’ve been keeping it for two days and constantly arranging for people to watch it. Now that you’ve taken it, we can finally relax!"