Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Picking Vegetables, Getting the Private Plot, and Celebrating

Jiang Xue was so angry she gritted her teeth.

Qiu Shuxia, who had been called out by name, had no choice but to step forward and explain, “Last time I was in a hurry and just forgot.”

Gu Qinghuan looked completely harmless as she replied, “It’s fine. I brought a little cart with me today, so I’ll pick the vegetables myself. No need to trouble you.”

The other educated youths didn’t say anything. After all, they had all planted these vegetables together, so it was only fair for her to take her own share.

“Comrade Gu, do you need any help?” Lin Shengnan gulped down the last of her porridge in two bites, wiped her mouth, and asked.

Last time, she’d borrowed Gu Qinghuan’s axe and realized Gu Qinghuan wasn’t as aloof as she’d thought—actually, she was quite easy to get along with. So Lin Shengnan was happy to help out.

Gu Qinghuan shook her head. “No need, thank you! I can manage on my own.”

But, of course, someone just had to stir up trouble.

“Hey, tomboy, if you’re so eager to help, why don’t you just move out and live with her? Qiu Shuxia, are you dead or something? Go keep an eye on her! If someone takes more than their share, what are we supposed to eat this winter?”

“Jiang Xue, watch your mouth.”

Lin Shengnan got dragged into it for no reason. She might be a bit simple and not the sharpest with words, but she could tell right from wrong.

Gu Qinghuan couldn’t be bothered to argue. She just picked up a firewood stick from the ground—no idea who left it there. It was as thick as her arm. With a single motion, she snapped it clean in two.

“Wanna fight?” With people like this, she’d rather use her fists than waste her breath. Talking was pointless.

Jiang Xue was so frightened by her display of strength that she took several steps back, hiding behind Chen Jianghe.

“Who—who wants to fight you? You—you’re destroying our team spirit!”

Since when had Gu Qinghuan become so violent? She’d acted like this last time too. Better not mess with her in the future.

Jiang Xue was scared inside, but still tried to put on a brave front.

“If you don’t want a beating, then stop provoking me! Next time, I’ll make sure you remember it!”

Gu Qinghuan didn’t even bother looking at her cowardly act. She tossed the firewood stick to the ground and turned to the vegetable garden in the back to pick her share.

After Gu Qinghuan left, Chen Jianghe snapped at Jiang Xue impatiently, “Can you stop picking fights with her from now on!” So embarrassing.

These past few days, Chen Jianghe had finally started treating her a bit better, but as soon as Gu Qinghuan showed up, it felt like everything went back to square one. Jiang Xue hated Gu Qinghuan even more now and swore she’d get back at her.

Gu Qinghuan picked her share of vegetables—never taking more than her due. She wasn’t one to take advantage, but she’d never let herself get shortchanged either.

She picked three pepper plants’ worth of peppers, red or green, all the same.

Three pumpkins, two winter melons, five heads of cabbage, five big white radishes, about ten carrots, and ten tomatoes.

She picked two eggplant plants’ worth—six big eggplants in total—five loofahs, and three handfuls of long beans.

A bunch each of cilantro and green onions, pulled up by the roots.

That was about it.

Qiu Shuxia watched her the whole time to make sure she didn’t take extra.

Gu Qinghuan loaded the vegetables onto her little cart and wheeled them home.

With these vegetables, plus wild greens, and occasionally sneaking a little something from her space, they’d have enough to eat for a while.

Next up was the issue of the private plot.

Land matters in the village had to be discussed and approved by the village officials.

But since Gu Qinghuan had a “good father-in-law” who was the Party Secretary, it was best to let him handle it.

If you have resources, you might as well use them.

Xu Mingshan hadn’t seen Gu Qinghuan for several days. When he suddenly saw her walking toward him with a big smile, he tensed up. Was there something she wanted again?

“Dad, heading out to work?”

“Yeah. I heard from the team leader that you haven’t shown up for work in days. What’s going on? Let me be clear, Huai’an’s family—last time’s three hundred jin of grain was a one-time split for your new household. There won’t be any more. Young people with good hands and feet need to work hard. Don’t expect the old folks to support you.” Xu Mingshan warned sternly.

Gu Qinghuan thought to herself, Old fox, what a good deal you struck. A hundred yuan and three hundred jin of grain, and you dump three people on a young girl to take care of. If she hadn’t come with her space, relying on the original body’s labor, she’d have starved to death by now.

“Dad, you forgot—we just moved out, and we didn’t have anything at home. Cleaning the house, gathering firewood, setting up the place, I had to do it all myself. Of course it took time.”

“That’s true. Anyway, remember, from now on, however your days go is your own business. I’m old and can’t help anymore.” Xu Mingshan put his hands behind his back.

“I understand. It’s just that there’s one more thing, and only you can handle it.” Gu Qinghuan gave him a little flattery.

“What is it?” Only he could handle it? Xu Mingshan was immediately interested.

“Now that we’ve split off, how should the private plot be divided?”

Xu Mingshan’s eyes widened. How could he have forgotten about the private plot? Great, now his wife would kick up a fuss at home again.

Actually, Xu Huaian had always had a private plot. The Xu family was still farming it. Now that the people had split off, they’d forgotten that the land should go with them too.

Seeing his reaction, Gu Qinghuan guessed as much and deliberately said, “Veterans should get special consideration. Besides, Huaian was a deputy battalion commander before he retired. If he can’t even get two mu of private plot, I’ll have to go to the town and county leaders to get an answer!”

As soon as Xu Mingshan heard she was going to the authorities, he immediately snapped, “What a trivial thing! No need to bother the leaders. I’ll take care of it for you this afternoon. You’re living in Wang Laocai’s old house now. He used to have a private plot right behind the house. It’s been left fallow, but you can start farming it again. It’s exactly four mu.”

As for the two mu that belonged to Xu Huaian in the Xu family’s plot, that would have to be returned to the collective.

He was a bit reluctant, but Xu Mingshan didn’t want people saying he was even taking his own son’s land, and he was even more afraid of losing his official position.

Gu Qinghuan was secretly delighted—so the old fox could be scared after all.

She said, “Thank you, Dad. You’re so good to us. If there’s anything else in the future, I’ll come to you again.”

Xu Mingshan watched Gu Qinghuan’s departing figure, so angry his mouth was crooked.

With the private plot issue easily settled, Gu Qinghuan was in a great mood and hummed a tune all the way home.

Tonight, she wanted to celebrate at home.

Oh, and she should invite her grandparents over for a good meal—they hadn’t met Xu Huaian yet.

No sooner said than done.

As soon as she got home, Gu Qinghuan started preparing dinner.

Zhong Zijun helped her out.

Based on what they had at home, she set the menu: pork ribs stewed with beans, tomato and egg stir-fry, shredded pork with green peppers, hot and sour cabbage, minced pork with eggplant, and loofah soup.

Due to limited ingredients, these were all simple home-style dishes.

But for this era, a spread like this was already quite impressive.

This time, Zhong Zijun didn’t say a word. If she wanted to spend, let her spend; if she wanted to eat, let her eat. One’s willing to give, one’s willing to take—as long as her son-in-law was happy, that was enough."