Chapter 361: Chapter 191: I Haven’t Thought It Through Yet (Part 2)
Juhua found his words deeply agreeable and couldn’t help but praise him, "A teachable student, indeed."
She regretted it as soon as the words were out. ’Using a phrase like that on a boy Li Changyu’s age, and coming from a girl like me... it sounds a bit flippant.’ She secretly chided herself. ’I have to be more careful with my words from now on. I’m already fourteen, after all.’
Zhang Huai froze for a moment, then he and Qingmu quickly broke into laughter.
Li Changyu coughed awkwardly. "Juhua, you can’t be planning to just plant some willows, can you? Do you have other ideas?"
Juhua gave him a strange look. "Other ideas? What ideas would I have? But look—the acorn trees, the bamboo, the wild chrysanthemums in the village... your father was the one who led everyone to get all that done. This landscape is getting more beautiful with each passing year."
Qingmu, loosening the soil with a shovel, chuckled. "Just planting willows and peaches by the river will keep us busy for a good long while. We still need to cultivate more peach saplings; we don’t have enough right now. Once we’re done here, when we have a spare moment, we’ll plant them along the road to Xiatang Market. How long do you think that’ll take?"
Zhang Huai, who was drawing water from the river with a wooden bucket to water the newly planted willow cuttings, smiled at Li Changyu. "We have to get this done before we can even think about anything else. If you’re that impatient, then you should hurry up and make a fortune. Then you can come back and really fix up our village. Money makes everything easier. Whatever we want to do then will be a breeze."
Juhua and Qingmu grinned at him. "We’re all counting on you to make your fortune soon."
Seeing the three of them looking at him with teasing smiles, Li Changyu couldn’t help but laugh. "If I get rich, won’t you all get rich too? I’m selling *your* things, after all."
Zhang Huai said, "You said it yourself—you’re selling our things. The stuff our entire Qingnan Village grows and raises is sold by you and you alone. You tell us, who’s the one getting rich?"
Juhua quickly added, "We’re farmers and you’re a merchant. It’s different. ’Without agriculture, there’s no stability.’ We farm the land and raise livestock, which gives Qingnan Village its steady production. ’Without industry, there’s no wealth.’ We make things like spicy cabbage and sausages, turning ordinary farm goods into something special that people want to buy. And ’without commerce, there’s no livelihood.’ With you out there dedicated to selling these things, our year of hard work can be turned into money. Of course, you get rich in the process and will definitely earn more than we do."
Qingmu and Zhang Huai were already used to Juhua suddenly coming out with these brilliant insights, so they just watched her with broad smiles.
Li Changyu stared at the eloquent Juhua, his mouth agape. It took him a moment to respond. "Hey, don’t exclude me from the group, alright? Even if I’m a merchant, I’m a special kind of merchant. You can’t compare me to those greedy, profit-hungry types."
Qingmu asked in surprise, "A merchant is a merchant. What’s so special about you? Well, you’re a trustworthy person, so you definitely won’t be a crooked merchant."
Zhang Huai said, "He’s studied for all these years, after all. His perspective is a cut above the rest. He should be even better at making money than other merchants, right?"
Juhua added, "With a belly full of classics and histories, and then going into business... I suppose you could be considered a ’scholar-merchant.’ You really are different from the others."
Seeing he had successfully captured their attention, Li Changyu gave a deliberate cough, planted his feet apart, and looked up at the sky. "I am a merchant produced by Little Qing Mountain, imbued with the character of Qingnan Village. I’m a different breed from the merchants out there."
"Hahaha..." Zhang Huai and Qingmu couldn’t hold back their laughter, and Juhua was also amused by his humor.
Qingmu suddenly remembered what Zhang Huai had told Manager Mao at the Qinghui restaurant and chuckled. "Of course you’re different. You eat acorn tofu, so you’re bound to fatten up nicely, and the meat will be tender."
At that, even Juhua couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. She looked Li Changyu up and down as she laughed, as if trying to see whether he had actually fattened up.
He hadn’t gained much weight, but compared to his travel-worn appearance from before the New Year, a few days of rest at home had brought some color back to his cheeks. His spirits were high, and it seemed the lively, sharp-witted young man had returned.
Laughed at until he was red in the face, Li Changyu retorted, "If I’m fattening up, shouldn’t you all have gained even more? You eat it every day, but I barely get to eat it when I’m away. Juhua, look! Huai Zi and your brother are both taller than me."
Zhang Huai laughed and cursed good-naturedly, "What nonsense are you spouting? You think we got taller than you from eating acorn tofu? How about mentioning we’re two years older than you?"
As they talked and laughed, they finished planting all the trimmed willow cuttings. The sun, about to sink behind the mountains, cast its lingering glow upon their faces, making their smiling cheeks seem especially radiant.
Watching the three of them work, Li Changyu was suddenly struck by how joyous and warm the scene felt. ’If, one day, Juhua marries either me or Huai Zi, will we still have happy moments like this?’
He watched as Juhua finished washing her hands and looked all around, her eyes filled with delight, as if this stretch of land by the river were her own private garden.
’A girl like her would never be happy in a city,’ Li Changyu thought to himself.
He composed himself and said to Juhua with a wide grin, "Juhua, Huai Zi and I will stay for dinner tonight. We’ll eat at your place, alright? I haven’t had a New Year’s meal at your house yet this year."
But Juhua replied without a second thought, "No, that’s not a good idea. My family’s been really busy these past couple of days, as you know. Come for a meal when we have more time."
’The main reason is that after Mom and Dad get back from the market, the family needs to discuss the betrothal gifts and matters concerning my sister-in-law. It wouldn’t be appropriate for an outsider to be there.’
Li Changyu never expected to be turned down so quickly.
’Is this just her personality?’ he wondered. ’When she’s feeling generous, she’s very hospitable about inviting people for meals. But when she doesn’t want to, she’s so direct with her refusal she doesn’t even bother with pleasantries.’
Seeing Li Changyu’s long, embarrassed face, Zhang Huai roared with laughter. Qingmu also watched his sister with amusement.
Li Changyu said helplessly, "Fine, if it’s not a good time, it’s not a good time. But little sister Juhua, you should know that by the time you’re free, your big brother Changyu will have already left for Qinghui County to make his way in the world. Shouldn’t you at least make me a farewell meal before I go? Sigh! It’s not easy for someone as young as me to be out there all alone."
Juhua gave him an amused look. "You should be saying that to your own family. As for the rest of us, none of us have it as easy as you do—we all work much harder. You should be the one bringing things back from Qinghui County to treat us! When you do, I’ll host a banquet to welcome you home. A farewell meal is unnecessary—wouldn’t that just add to the sorrow of parting?"
Li Changyu glanced at Qingmu and Zhang Huai, who were bent over with laughter, and could only offer a sheepish grin, not knowing how to respond.
Juhua paid them no mind, glancing around until she spotted two figures approaching on the village path in the distance. "Dad and Mom are back. I’m going home to start dinner."
Without waiting for a reply, she hurried off at a trot, her long braid swinging behind her, the big Black Dog trotting at her side.
Li Changyu watched her retreating figure, a sense of loss settling in his heart.
