Chapter 23: Mutual Interests

The next morning, Li Aimei stepped out of her house. It felt as if the mood of the entire village had shifted overnight. Villagers gathered in small groups, whispering and stealing curious, speculative glances in her direction.

The previous evening, Wang Guifen had spitefully embellished the story of the "broken promise" regarding Li Aimei’s family, spreading it to every corner of the village. Wang Guifen’s words had been like a sharp blade, slicing through Li Aimei’s reputation and turning the mention of a "bride exchange" into the primary fodder for village gossip. Li Aimei sighed helplessly; some things, once started, were as impossible to contain as a flood.

She walked slowly to the old locust tree at the edge of the village. Seeing her, some villagers stopped in their tracks, while others crowded around to inquire about the previous night's rumors.

"Aimei, is it true that the marriage between your family and the Zhao family has fallen through? What happened?" an elderly woman asked, her tone a mix of concern and curiosity.

Li Aimei gave a bitter smile. If she didn't clarify things now, the rumors would only grow more outrageous. "Actually, it isn't as you think. The arrangement hadn't been finalized yet. And as for my daughter Xiaowan and Li Yonggang, you all know the situation. Besides, Wang Guifen is from the next village over; I don't even know how she managed to arrange things so quickly, and I certainly hadn't had a chance to notify her of anything."

Only then did the villagers realize it had all been a misunderstanding. It was clear now that they couldn't rely on Wang Guifen to find a match, but at least Li Aimei could preserve her family's reputation. The villagers’ expressions shifted; some nodded in understanding, while others muttered quietly among themselves.

"Well, let's leave the children's affairs to them. Aimei, when is your Xiaowan getting married?" another villager asked concernedly.

"We are discussing the date now. You'll all have to come and join the celebration when the time comes," Li Aimei said with a smile. The villagers offered their congratulations, as a wedding was always a significant event for any household.

Meanwhile, the courtyard of the old branch secretary’s house was a scene of bustling activity. An old truck was packed tight with what was supposed to be a batch of twenty Angora rabbits; in reality, the cargo bed was crowded with thirty-eight. The little creatures were lively and energetic. The secretary stood by the truck, gazing at the rabbits with a look of immense satisfaction and expectation.

Lin Junsheng stood beside him. The secretary had initially planned to test the waters with only twenty rabbits, but after considering the high profit margins of raising Angora rabbits, he had steeled himself and decided to stake everything on this venture. After all, he knew the old saying: nothing ventured, nothing gained. Including the two rabbits his son had brought earlier, there were now forty lively little lives in his care. At forty-five yuan per rabbit, this entire batch was worth a small fortune of eighteen hundred yuan.

Watching the secretary’s bold investment, Lin Junsheng was secretly astonished; he hadn’t realized the secretary’s family had such resources.

"Junsheng, the survival of these rabbits rests entirely on you," the secretary said earnestly, his eyes full of trust. Lin Junsheng nodded solemnly, well aware of the weight of this responsibility.

When the secretary offered him two rabbits to take home and raise, Lin Junsheng didn't decline. He carefully observed each one before selecting two with particularly lustrous fur and bright, alert eyes. The two rabbits seemed to sense his affection, staying quiet in his arms and occasionally nuzzling his palm.

"Thank you, Secretary," Lin Junsheng said, cradling the two small rabbits.

"Come by whenever you can to check on them and teach me how to raise them properly," the secretary said with a smile.

Lin Junsheng agreed. As he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something. Looking at the secretary, he said with some hesitation, "Secretary, my sister is getting married to Li Yonggang soon. Yonggang wants to buy a major item as a betrothal gift, and I suggested a bicycle. Do you think you could..."

The secretary laughed heartily and clapped Lin Junsheng on the shoulder. "You sharp-minded boy. Alright, I’ll get you a purchase voucher."

Lin Junsheng’s face lit up with a brilliant smile, and he thanked him repeatedly. Holding the two fluffy rabbits—which felt like two warm clouds in his arms—he made his way home.

"Mom, look at the treasure I brought back!" As soon as he entered the house, his voice rang through the courtyard, filled with irrepressible joy.

Li Aimei had just returned from the old locust tree. Today, through her own wit, she had successfully salvaged the reputation of the Lin family. Hearing her son’s call, she set aside her worries and stepped out from the bedroom. When her gaze fell upon the two rabbits in Lin Junsheng’s arms, her eyes brightened.

"My goodness, where did these little rabbits come from? They are so cute!" Li Aimei reached out to gently stroke their soft fur, her eyes full of pleasant surprise.

Lin Junsheng smiled and explained, "These are Angora rabbits. Their fur is incredibly valuable. The secretary gave them to me."

"How could the secretary be so generous? These must cost a fortune," Li Aimei said, though she was happy, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of worry.

"Forty-five yuan each, but don’t worry, Mom. Consider this a down payment for the veterinary advice I’ll be providing for the secretary's rabbits. I’ll take good care of them and sell the wool for a high price."

Afterward, he carefully placed the two rabbits into a small hutch he had prepared in advance. It was a cozy shelter woven from bamboo strips, lined with soft hay and fresh vegetable leaves. The rabbits seemed to sense the warmth of their new home and began to nibble away happily, the "crunch-crunch" sound filling the air.

Lin Junsheng watched them eat, feeling content. After all, the value of the wool from a single rabbit could reach one hundred and sixty yuan per year. He earned money from writing novels, but only when his submissions were accepted. Although his monthly royalties were around a hundred yuan, after his script was approved, he still had over eight hundred yuan in hand after giving one hundred to Li Yonggang. Once he saved enough, he would pay off the family’s debts, and they wouldn't have to live so frugally anymore.

After explaining some feeding methods to Li Aimei, he returned to his room. Having accepted the secretary’s gift, he had to provide something of real value in return. He picked up his pen, opened a slightly yellowed notebook, and began to write down detailed methods for managing and raising Angora rabbits. From daily feeding and care to disease prevention and treatment, every detail was considered with care and precision.

If he did his part well, the others would see his sincerity. Benefits were mutual; if you only sought to take advantage of others, you would never gain anything in the end. It was the same with building friendships. If you were always looking to get something out of your friends, you would eventually end up with none at all.