readease Chapter 128 A Golden Phoenix Takes Flight from Our Village
Chapter 128 A Golden Phoenix Takes Flight from Our Village
Before Li Xianglian could even open her mouth, Qin Rushan tightened the clothesline one last time and turned around.
"Don't go into the ditch."
"Move to the county seat."
This mention of "county town" was like a thunderclap from a clear sky.
Wang Qiao nearly dropped the basket in her hands, her mouth agape: "What the heck? The county... the county town?!"
These days, everyone's desperate to get into the city.
That was a great place where people could eat government-supplied grain and live in big brick houses!
So many people beg and plead but can't even get close to the city, so why are they suddenly going to enter the city without a word?
"Dashan, you...you're not making fun of your sister-in-law, are you?"
Wang Qiao was somewhat incredulous. "You can afford a house in that county town?"
Qin Rushan chuckled, not angry at Wang Qiao's questioning. "The house is right behind the machinery factory, a detached house. I didn't want to rush it, but there are too many flies and mosquitoes in this village, buzzing around annoyingly, and I was afraid they would disturb my wife's health."
Wang Qiao didn't pay any attention to the barbs in those words. Her mind was filled with only three words: the machinery factory.
What kind of place is that? That's the most prosperous place in the county!
Looking at the young couple in front of her, Wang Qiao felt as if the sun had risen in the west today.
One moment the whole village was laughing at the Liu family for having a slut, and the next moment Qin Rushan was about to take Li Xianglian to a high position and become a phoenix!
This is explosive news!
Compared to Liu Chunhua marrying Li Laizi, this is like an atomic bomb!
"Oh my God..."
Wang Qiao muttered to herself, her expression changing rapidly, a mix of shock, envy, and barely suppressed excitement rising to her head.
She had no interest in buying bok choy.
This is huge news! This is the first major news story in Xiahe Village since the founding of the People's Republic of China!
It has to be spread!
If she had been a step too late, this headline wouldn't have been hers, Wang Qiao's!
"Um... Dashan, Xianglian, since you're busy moving, I won't cause any more trouble! You two keep busy! Keep busy!"
Wang Qiao slung the empty basket over her arm and, as if she had wheels of fire on her feet, turned and dashed out of the yard.
I almost tripped over the threshold and fell flat on my face when I got to the door.
She didn't slow down at all, staggered to steady herself, and disappeared into the alley in a flash.
Less than two seconds later, Wang Qiao's signature loud voice came from the alley entrance.
"Hey! Auntie! Stop feeding the pigs! Come out quickly! Something terrible has happened!"
"Zhao Tieniu! Still squatting by the wall? Qin Rushan bought a house in the county town! A golden phoenix has flown out of our village!"
Zhao Cuifen carried a rusty hoe and trudged into the village.
The sun was blazing down, and her dusty gray undershirt was already soaked through, clinging tightly to her thin back.
Sweat streamed down his deeply lined face, dripping into the corners of his mouth; it tasted both salty and bitter.
She was seething with anger.
These past few days have been unbearable for the Zhao family.
In the past, wherever she went, the villagers, though not necessarily showing her great respect, would still greet her politely as "Aunt Zhao."
But ever since that jinx Li Xianglian followed Qin Rushan, and with the scandal involving Li Laizi and Liu Chunhua, the whole atmosphere in the village has changed.
Now, whenever anyone sees her, her eyes have a half-smile that makes people feel uneasy.
And then there are the sarcastic ones who'll say things like, "Oh, Aunt Cuifen, still toiling in the fields? Your ex-daughter-in-law's really living the good life!"
Enjoying life? What a load of rubbish!
Zhao Cuifen spat a mouthful of phlegm on the ground, cursing fiercely in her heart.
Li Xianglian, that barren hen, that jinx, if she left Old Zhao's house, she'd probably starve to death in some corner!
So what if I followed that good-for-nothing Qin Rushan?
Besides his brute strength, could Qin Rushan also conjure money?
The aroma of meat wafting from the Qin family's courtyard these past few days must have come from that scoundrel who was stealing chickens and dogs!
You have to eat peanuts sooner or later!
Just as he was cursing to vent his anger, before he even reached the big locust tree at the village entrance, he heard a commotion ahead.
"My goodness! Is this for real?"
"Behind the machine factory? That's the rich man's quarters in the county!"
"What kind of windfall did Qin Rushan make? Could he have done something shady?"
Zhao Cuifen was completely confused, and her pace quickened involuntarily.
At the entrance of the village, under the centuries-old locust tree, the area was now surrounded by layers upon layers of people.
Normally, only a few old men and women sit under this tree, sewing shoe soles and smoking pipes.
Today is really strange. Even the strong laborers who are supposed to be working in the fields are all gathered there, craning their necks like ducks being pulled up by the throat.
Standing in the very center of the crowd was Wang Qiao, who had just come from the Qin family.
Wang Qiao was beaming with pride at that moment.
She stood on a large blue stone, her posture even more imposing than that of a commune cadre holding a large meeting.
Why would I lie to you? Do you think I'm the kind of person who gossips?
Wang Qiao thumped her chest loudly, almost shaking off her makeup. "I saw it with my own eyes! Qin Rushan's key was gleaming yellow; it was made of copper! He told Xianglian himself that it was behind the machinery factory, a detached house with three large brick rooms and a pomegranate tree in the yard!"
"Whoosh—"
The crowd immediately erupted in uproar.
These days, everyone toils in the fields, digging for food in the dirt.
Taking a stroll around the county town is a privilege reserved for the Chinese New Year, let alone buying a house there!
How much would that cost? Several thousand dollars? That's an astronomical figure!
"Sister-in-law Wang Qiao, you're not mistaken, are you? Qin Rushan is usually so irresponsible, where did he get so much money?"
Li Dazui spat out the sunflower seed shells in his mouth, looking incredulous. "Could it be that you're just bragging without paying taxes?"
"Bragging?" Wang Qiao sneered, her eyes sweeping around disdainfully. "Da Shan is a man of few words! Don't you realize he used to be a soldier, drove trucks in the south, and has seen more of the world than any of you have ever been! He can just casually throw around thousands of dollars!"
"Several thousand dollars?!"
Everyone gasped, their eyes instantly gleaming with a green light.
Jealousy, envy, disbelief—a mix of emotions swirled together.
Those families with daughters are now filled with regret.
Qin Rushan had a bad reputation back then. He was fierce and there were rumors that he had injured his genitals in the army and was impotent. Everyone looked down on him.
Now I realize I was completely wrong.
Not only is there nothing wrong with his lower body, but his sexual prowess is off the charts; he can do it better than the donkeys in the production team.
If only I had married my daughter off to that family, they would be the ones enjoying the good life now.
Zhao Cuifen was standing on the outskirts of the crowd when she heard this. Her mind went blank, as if she had been hit hard on the head with a club.
Three thousand yuan?
A detached house with its own yard?
Should we stay in the county town?
Li Xianglian, whom she had treated like a slave for three years, was actually going to the county town to become a wealthy woman.