Going to Jing Shi Together

Before Hua Jin Yin could speak to persuade him, Fang Yan Hong, who was playing with her child nearby, stepped forward and patted Chu Lai Fu's shoulder: "What more is there to think about? Of course, we're going to Jing Shi; it's better than farming in the countryside, after all. Er Hua, if I also bring my child with Second Uncle there, can you help us with the household registration procedures?"

Hua Jin Yin nodded: "That's certainly possible. Then, you two can persuade Grandpa and Grandma to come with us to Jing Shi. As it happens, I have a house with a courtyard, enough for our whole family to live in."

With such good conditions and Fang Yan Hong's support, what was there to hesitate about? Er Hua wouldn't harm them! Chu Lai Fu's wavering heart now became firm: "Go! Once a new team leader is elected, I'll hand over the team's work and then come to Jing Shi to find you!"

"Then I'll wait for Second Uncle and everyone to arrive in Jing Shi."

"Alright, it's decided!"

Having received Chu Lai Fu's firm promise, Hua Jin Yin felt a surge of excitement; her money-making venture was finally about to begin.

A bright future beckoned, and smiles bloomed on the faces of Chu Lai Fu and Fang Yan Hong. After discussing the main matters, they accompanied Hua Jin Yin to inspect the peach orchard.

Most of the peaches in the orchard had already been picked, but unexpectedly, there were still some small, second-growth peaches on the trees at this time.

Chu Lai Fu picked one for Hua Jin Yin. Although the fruit was a bit small and not as juicy as the first batch, the slightly sour peach had a very good flavor.

"These peaches have also been pre-ordered by the Supply and Marketing Cooperative; they sell for five mao per jin."

At this, Chu Lai Fu couldn't help but smile: "Er Hua, guess how much money our team earned this year just from selling peaches?"

Hua Jin Yin calculated silently. One mu of peach orchard could yield three to four thousand, so wouldn't twenty mu be seventy to eighty thousand? In this era, that could be considered a substantial income.

Without waiting for Hua Jin Yin to answer, Chu Lai Fu couldn't hold back and blurted out: "Over twenty thousand yuan! I've lived this long and never seen so much money before."

Hua Jin Yin's eyes widened in surprise: "What? Over twenty mu of peaches only earned over twenty thousand yuan?"

If she didn't trust Chu Lai Fu's character, she would have suspected that he deliberately understated the figure and secretly pocketed the extra money.

Chu Lai Fu was also stunned upon hearing this. He then understood why Hua Jin Yin was puzzled, and sighed again: "Originally, we earned over seventy thousand, but the commune said our peaches were collective property, so half the income had to be handed over, resulting in a loss of over thirty thousand.

Of the remaining thirty thousand, we paid for seeds and fertilizer from spring, and also covered the deficits left by the previous team leader. The commune then announced that our team would be allocated an additional tractor, leaving us with only over twenty thousand in the end."

Hua Jin Yin said helplessly, "Second Uncle, our team is entirely in the mountains, the roads haven't been repaired yet. How can a tractor be driven up the mountain?"

Chu Lai Fu sighed again upon hearing this: "That's right, I also told them our team can't use a tractor, and it would be better to allocate a few more buffaloes. But the commune said they would help our team repair the roads by the end of the year. Hearing that, even though the money is less, it's good that they're willing to repair the roads for us. Moreover, over twenty thousand isn't a small amount. Our team has over a hundred households, so calculated per capita, each household could receive a few hundred yuan at the end of the year. Not to mention we also have buffaloes, pigs, and goats in our village, which also earn a good amount of money."

Speaking of sharing the money, Chu Lai Fu's mouth split into a wide grin again. But thinking that he would soon no longer be the team leader of Tao Hua Loan Production Team, he felt that this matter no longer concerned him much.

Initially, Hua Jin Yin felt that it was a pity that Chu Lai Fu, who had helped the Tao Hua Loan Production Team earn a good amount of money, was no longer the team leader. But after hearing Chu Lai Fu calculate the accounts for her, she also felt that it was fine not to be this team leader!

Coming down from the mountain, Chu Lai Fu told Fang Yan Hong to take her child home first, while he and Hua Jin Yin went to the team headquarters to write a resignation letter for the team leader position of Tao Hua Loan Production Team. Afterward, he asked Hua Jin Yin to drive him to the commune to find the secretary and submit the application.

The secretary was a middle-aged man in his early forties. Upon receiving the resignation letter, he was stunned: "Hey, Comrade Chu Lai Fu, you're doing a great job as team leader, why are you stepping down?"

Chu Lai Fu spread his hands: "I have no choice. Ever since our team started raising those piglets and goat kids, sometimes higher-level leaders would come for inspections, and every time they'd demand roast meat. In just a few months, they've eaten over twenty animals. The number of pigs our team reported has a quota; if we hand over the full amount at the end of the year, how many will be left? Everyone in the team is hoping to share meat at the end of the year; if things continue like this, what will I have to share?"

The secretary sighed upon hearing this: "I know the situation you're talking about, but they are all higher-level leaders... How about, by the end of the year, your team will be allowed to hand over a few fewer animals?"

Chu Lai Fu still shook his head: "Secretary, I truly cannot continue as team leader. Anyway, everything is still there, and I feel I haven't let down my role as team leader these past few years. The old debts left behind have now been paid off; no future team leader can speak ill of me. I've worked tirelessly for the team these past few years, and I'm truly exhausted!"

The secretary still wanted to persuade him, but seeing Chu Lai Fu's demeanor, he knew it was useless: "Then go back and think about it some more. I will also discuss it with the cadres in the commune and will give you an answer soon."

Chu Lai Fu grabbed the secretary's hand: "Secretary, no more discussions, you must approve it!"

The secretary had no choice but to concede; after all, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. Chu Lai Fu was determined not to be the team leader anymore, and he couldn't force him.

Coming out of the commune office, Chu Lai Fu felt completely relieved. He went to the commune's Supply and Marketing Cooperative and bought several bolts of cloth: "Go back and tell your second aunt to sew some new clothes; we'll need new clothes when we go to Jing Shi."

Hua Jin Yin nodded, thinking that she still had quite a bit of fabric bought from Jing Shi in her space: "This time, I'll also bring back some fabric from Jing Shi. I'll have someone sew them into clothes, and once they're done, I'll ask Auntie to bring them over."

Chu Lai Fu was about to say there was no need, but thinking that he would have many things to rely on Hua Jin Yin for in Jing Shi later, these few bolts of fabric were insignificant, so he happily agreed. But in his heart, he thought, he must repay Er Hua well in the future.

Back home, Fang Yan Hong had already told the grandparents about the whole family going to Jing Shi. When Chu Lai Fu added that he had resigned as team leader, Grandma Chu and Grandpa Chu were silent for a long time. Finally, Grandpa Chu slammed the table: "Go! Although people say fallen leaves return to their roots, what young person doesn't want to strive for betterment? Jing Shi is a much better place than our team. In the future, the children will all be city dwellers and no longer have to live a life of toiling under the sun and sky."

Grandma Chu also nodded in agreement. Chu Lai Fu finally felt at ease and cautiously said, "Father, Mother, you two should also come with us then."

Grandpa Chu nodded: "As long as you don't mind, this old man naturally wants to go along. I'll be waiting for you two to support me in my old age."

Chu Lai Fu looked at Fang Yan Hong upon hearing this, and seeing her expression also relaxed, he smiled and said, "Yes, then I'll earn money, and every day I'll have Yan Hong make delicious food for Father and Mother."