In the end, everyone was persuaded by Zhou He. Walking was indeed easier and less tiring, and since Zhou He lived in the village, having her company on the way to the factory every morning was quite pleasant.
It wasn’t just Ji Ying, Xiong Xihua and others were also going to the factory, they would look out for each other if anything happened on their way.
After this matter was settled, Xu Qinghe started to discuss the land purchase with everyone.
The atmosphere was warm as everyone voiced their opinions back and forth, making the scene feel cozy and fortunate.
A village close to the county town, where everyone knew about everyone else’s business clearly.
One day, under the clear and sunny sky, a piece of news stirred up intense waves in the village.
The Xu Qinghe family was going to buy land.
And it wasn’t just any land; they were purchasing three mu of land.
One mu of land could build over a dozen rooms, but the Xu Family went straight for three mu.
Even though the three mu of land were wasteland now, the Xu Family intended to use them to set up a factory.
Rumor had it that they were planning to open a furniture factory.
Since leaving the Xu Family, Xu Qinghe’s life had really been getting better, to the point where they were now starting a furniture factory.
How much money had the Xu Family made after all?
Villagers gossiped and inquired among themselves, Xu Qinghe didn’t keep it a secret, he only said that he and Xu Song planned to open a furniture factory to avoid having to pick up odd furniture-making jobs everywhere.
When this news reached Xu Zhong’s family, Xu Zhong remained silent, not uttering a word. He just pinched a cigarette and began to smoke it silently, a luxury he seldom allowed himself, brought back from the county by Xu Zhihao.
"Impossible, where did you get this news?"
Liu Sanmei’s eyes were wide with disbelief as she stared at Zhao Juxiang, questioning the veracity of her words. She said, "Juxiang, you can mess up eating, but you can’t talk nonsense. Where would Qinghe’s family get so much money? We know exactly how much he earns a month. Even if Ji Ying works in the factory, she could barely make two hundred at most. The money to buy land is not something you can get with just one or two hundred."
"That’s what everyone in the village is saying, it can’t all be false," Zhao Juxiang originally didn’t believe it either, but with everyone spreading the news, she couldn’t help but believe it. She added, "Also, Xiong Xihua’s son, Xu Song, is also buying the land with them."
"Where did they get so much money?" mumbled Liu Sanmei, regretting that they had split from the family so soon.
Zhihao’s venture didn’t work out, and on top of that they had split off Xu Qinghe’s branch, it was a huge loss indeed.
"I was also wondering, when we split the family assets, they begged pathetically more than anyone. Could it be that they’ve been hiding private savings over these years?"
While applying eye medicine, Zhao Juxiang said, "Dad, Mom, the money that Qingjiang and I earn, we contribute every last cent. Big brother and sister-in-law look so honest, who knows how much they have hidden over the years. We’re still a family after all; how could they do such a thing."
If Xu Qinghe and Ji Ying were there, they would surely be hopping mad, cursing Zhao Juxiang for speaking falsehoods.
If anyone was hiding private savings, it was certainly Zhao Juxiang and her husband, but Xu Qinghe and Ji Ying, they were genuinely upright and had not saved a dime, which made their family life quite difficult right after the division of the family assets.
Xu Qinghe and Xu Yuchun, the brothers, were pleased. They had acquired the land for about the price they had anticipated. They were planning to properly celebrate and also to plan out the furniture factory in detail.
They had bought the land, and it had cost a substantial amount of money. It was a considerable investment—if they failed to make the money back, it would be a serious blow to the family!