Du Ziheng received Liu Yifeng's transfer and immediately called him: "Brother Liu, what's the hurry with this money? We're about to cooperate and open a farmhouse. It's precisely when money is needed. You can transfer it when it's convenient for you!"
"It's fine, I have some spare cash on hand. I'm afraid I'll forget if too much time passes," Liu Yifeng chuckled.
"Alright, if you need money, just tell me and I'll transfer it directly. By the way, have you chosen a location for the farmhouse?" Du Ziheng asked.
Liu Yifeng nodded: "I've set my sights on one, but it's a public area in the village. It needs to be approved by all the villagers before we can use it. The village head will call a meeting for me tonight, and all the village representatives will attend. As long as they approve, we can build the farmhouse there."
"Okay, I'm troubling you with this. After all, it's your territory. If I, an outsider, were to go, they surely wouldn't give me face. I'll thank you properly once it's done!" Du Ziheng said.
Hearing Du Ziheng's polite words, Liu Yifeng feigned displeasure: "Brother Du, why are you being so formal between us? You even found the designer for the blueprints. If we keep thanking each other like this, how can we cooperate in the future!"
Du Ziheng laughed it off: "Brother Liu is right. Then I won't say any more formal words. When the results are out tonight, remember to call me immediately."
"I know. I'll get busy then." Liu Yifeng still had to drive back to cook dinner. He needed to eat early to attend the meeting at the ancestral hall. After all, he was the one who asked the village head to convene the meeting, so he couldn't be late.
It was already 5:30 PM when he returned home. The sun hadn't set yet, and the temperature was still hot. Walking outside felt like being hit by a wave of heat; an average person couldn't handle it. However, people living in this city were already accustomed to such weather. It was scorching hot when it was hot, and freezing cold when it was cold. Experiencing all four seasons in a single day was common. Therefore, outsiders found it hard to adapt to this place even after several years.
After getting out of the car, Liu Yifeng carried a box of ice pops. They still had enough at home for a few days. But during this time, children would come to his house to pick peanuts. It wouldn't be right if only he ate them. Besides, ice pops weren't expensive, costing a few cents each. Even if each person got two a day, it wouldn't cost tens of yuan. Moreover, if the children ate ice pops, they would be in a good mood, and a good mood would make them work with more energy, thus increasing efficiency! Work that might have taken a week could potentially be finished in five days.
Tongtong, who was playing with a toy car with a puppy, excitedly asked upon seeing him: "Daddy, you're here!"
Liu Yifeng smiled and nodded: "Yes, what are you playing with, Tongtong?"
"Playing with a toy car with Da Bai!" Tongtong held up the toy car: "By the way, Daddy, what are you holding?"
"It's ice pops. Tongtong, quickly help Daddy open the refrigerator!"
After hearing his father's words, Tongtong wiggled his bottom and ran to the refrigerator, opening the freezer compartment. There were still seven or eight ice pops inside, all relatively good ones, some costing several yuan each. These were bought for Tongtong. The ice pops bought today were of mid-to-high grade at the wholesale store, costing seven to eight mao each. They would sell for 1.5 yuan outside, and some for 1 yuan. Even at this price, not everyone could afford them. It was a rare luxury, and they couldn't eat them frequently, otherwise, the family's daily expenses would be overwhelming.
After putting all the ice pops into the refrigerator, before Liu Yifeng could say anything about giving them to the older children outside, Tongtong proactively asked: "Daddy, the older brothers and sisters outside are working so hard. Can I give them one?"
"Of course. Tongtong, will you give them to the older brothers and sisters?" Liu Yifeng asked with a smile. It was a good thing that his son had such a kind heart at such a young age, and Liu Yifeng couldn't extinguish this kindness in its infancy.
Tongtong obediently nodded: "Okay!"
For the next few days, Liu Yifeng took a few leftover chocolate ice pops from before and had Tongtong deliver them. The ones bought today had already started to melt, so they needed to be frozen longer.
"Older brothers and sisters, eat ice pops!" Tongtong came to the courtyard and gave everyone an ice pop. The group looked at each other, hesitant to accept, fearing that the ice pops would be used to offset their wages.
Seeing this, Liu Yifeng immediately said: "Eat them all. This is a gesture from my son. When my dad arrives later, I'll pay you your wages."
Only then did everyone feel relieved and accepted the ice pops, saying "thank you." However, this was their first time eating chocolate ice pops, so they ate them very carefully, afraid of finishing them too quickly. Although times were better than the early nineties, and living conditions were improving, in their rural area, very few people would buy ice pops in bulk because they were reluctant to spend the money. Sometimes, when children craved them, they would pester for a long time before their parents bought a few-cent ice pop from the small shop. Even then, the children cherished it and didn't dare to eat it too quickly, let alone the better-tasting and more expensive chocolate ice pops.
Seeing everyone eating, Liu Yifeng went into the kitchen. There were still many meat dishes left from lunch, but the vegetables were all gone, so he only needed to stir-fry two vegetable dishes.
At 6:30 PM, Liu Chunsheng, pulling eight bundles of peanuts on a cart, was followed by Li Dongmei, who was pushing hard. Although Yifeng had told him he would handle it, Liu Chunsheng knew that Yifeng had been very busy lately. Since he had nothing to do, doing some work in the evening wouldn't cause heatstroke, so he directly pushed the cart to the peanut field.
Liu Yifeng heard the commotion and saw his father's hunched figure pulling the cart, bringing the peanuts back. He quickly went to help: "Dad, I told you to leave this to me. You just recovered, and you're doing such heavy work. You won't be able to handle it." As he spoke, he stopped his father and took the cart from him. With effort, he pulled the cart to the open space by the wall in the courtyard and then carried the bundles one by one to the corner.
Liu Chunsheng wanted to help, but Liu Yifeng sternly stopped him: "Dad, you just rest. I'll do it!"
"Look at you, treating me like a cripple. I've done this kind of work many times before. I only got heatstroke once, I'm not that fragile," Liu Chunsheng said with dissatisfaction.
Li Dongmei, standing nearby, smiled: "Uncle Liu, your son is the most filial person I've ever seen. If my son is half as good as Yifeng in the future, I'll be very content."
"Your son isn't bad either. He's earning money at such a young age," Liu Chunsheng said, looking at Li Dongmei's youngest son.
Li Dongmei also looked at her children: "They are so young, how can they know how to do anything? Actually, I know you're pitying my mother and children, Uncle Liu, so I have to thank you and Yifeng. Please come to my house for a meal when you have time. I'm a good cook, at least."
"You're not earning much. Don't let the money you earn be insufficient for our meals. You should save the money well; there will be many expenses when the children grow up!" Liu Yifeng said.
Hearing Liu Yifeng's concerned words, Li Dongmei's face turned slightly red. She nodded gently: "Okay!"
Liu Chunsheng sensed something was amiss and immediately said to the children: "It's getting late. We'll stop here for today. Let me see the peanuts you picked, and I'll pay you."
Upon hearing that they would get paid, the children eagerly pointed to the peanuts they had picked: "I picked this, I picked this."
"Don't rush, everyone will get paid. Which ones are yours, brother and sister?" Liu Chunsheng asked the two somewhat older children. They were Li Dongmei's children. Each pointed to the peanuts in their own basket. Due to their young age and the fact that they only started picking in the afternoon, their combined haul was less than a basket. Liu Chunsheng gave each of them 1.5 yuan, which was the market price, and even a bit more. The two were overjoyed to receive the money.
"You two are only happy. Hurry up and thank Grandpa Liu!" Li Dongmei reprimanded her children.
The two then said "thank you, Grandpa Liu." Hearing them call him Grandpa, Liu Chunsheng's hair stood on end. He felt an unsettling feeling, as if he were about to become their grandfather. He went to the peanut field to drag the peanuts back precisely to prevent Liu Yifeng and Li Dongmei from being alone together. So, he quickly said: "You're welcome. It's getting late, hurry home with your mother."
After saying that, he remembered something and immediately took out two 100-yuan bills: "This is your payment for today. Keep it safe."
"Okay, thank you, Uncle Liu. However, the peanuts in the field will probably take another half day to be completely dug up and brought home." Li Dongmei said, looking a bit embarrassed. After all, she and Liu Yifeng had confidently said they would finish in two days. Now, it would require her to work half a day longer.
Liu Yifeng said nonchalantly: "It's fine, it's not a big deal to be a day or half a day late. Hurry back with the children!"
"Okay, I'm leaving then!" Li Dongmei said and then left with her two children.
Following that, Liu Chunsheng settled the wages for the other children. It totaled 36 yuan for six baskets. He was quite generous; others paid five yuan per basket, but he paid six. After sending all the children away, Liu Chunsheng couldn't help but give a few words of advice: "After Li Dongmei finishes the peanut field for us, don't go looking for her anymore."
"We're not related. Why would I look for her? Dad, you worry too much. You're afraid something will happen between her and me. That's impossible, so you can put your mind at ease!"
"But..." Liu Chunsheng wanted to say more, but was interrupted.
"No 'buts'. Let's eat quickly. I need to go to the ancestral hall later. I asked Second Grandpa to help me convene the village committee today, and it wouldn't be good to be late," Liu Yifeng said, then turned directly into the living room.
"What meeting?" Liu Chunsheng's voice called out from behind.
"You'll know later. Let's eat first!" Liu Yifeng didn't explain further.