Chapter Forty-Nine: A Rare Opportunity

“This is the advisor recommended to us by the farm—Teacher Yan.” The second sister introduced the tall young woman to her mother, then glanced around and, as expected, saw villagers peering curiously into their yard. “Teacher Yan graduated from an agricultural school and specializes in animal husbandry. She’s here to help us set up the farm and also wants to gain some experience.”

Teacher Yan had a down-to-earth name: Yan Chunhua. Hailing from the countryside herself, she showed no trace of arrogance before the Zhang parents. On the contrary, upon arrival, she immediately pitched in to help, never once putting on airs.

“Teacher Yan, don’t tire yourself out. Sit and chat with my mother. I’ll go make lunch. We’ll just have something simple at noon, and I’ll cook something better tonight.”

“It’s fine, whatever’s available is good. Just boil some noodles; if we eat early, everyone can rest. In the afternoon, we’ll go up the mountain to check the site.”

Yan Chunhua had graduated just over a year ago. Her teacher had referred her to work at the same farm where Zhang’s eldest brother was employed. Yan was diligent, eager to learn, and quickly became a standout at the farm. The trip up the mountain with the Zhang siblings was her own suggestion, as she wished to independently design a farm to accumulate experience.

Having worked together for some time, Yan Chunhua and the Zhang siblings got along well—their ages not too far apart and their conversations always engaging. Their similar backgrounds also meant they shared much in common.

After the eldest brother returned home, he changed clothes and went to chop firewood. The wood they’d been burning was what he’d prepared before leaving, and after so long, it was nearly gone. Now, with meals to prepare for little Zhang Zhang, the need for firewood only increased. Had he not returned, Grandpa Zhang would have had to take up the axe. The old man suffered from chronic cold knees and a misshapen spine; even a bit too long at the woodpile left him in agony.

“Whose child is this? He’s adorable.”

“That’s my youngest brother’s son, Zhang Zhang.” The second sister glanced through the kitchen window, answering Yan Chunhua’s question.

Yan Chunhua already knew a bit about the Zhang family and was aware that their third brother had died a hero, leaving behind a posthumous child—this must be him.

“Zhang Zhang’s aunt has business in the south and can’t bring him along, so he’s staying here for a while. The weather’s hot, but it’s cooler up in the mountains, though the mosquitoes are fierce. Zhang Zhang’s skin is covered in bites.”

Grandma Zhang was worried. Her eldest grandson’s fair skin was dotted with raised bumps, itchy enough to torment even an adult, let alone a tender child like Zhang Zhang. At night, he whimpered even in his dreams, tormented by the itch.

“I know a remedy—boil some herbs for his bath to relieve the itching and prevent heat rash, and it works to ward off mosquitoes too. I’ll gather some when we go up the mountain, and he’ll see results tonight.”

Yan Chunhua looked at Zhang Zhang’s swollen skin with concern, recalling a folk method her teacher had taught her for preventing bites during mountain fieldwork.

They spent the afternoon exploring the mountain, collecting medicinal herbs along the way. Yan Chunhua soaked mint, calamine, sweet flag, honeysuckle vine, elecampane, and fresh hundred-head root in cold water for ten minutes, brought it to a boil, then simmered it for ten more. She strained the clear liquid, waited for it to cool, and gave Zhang Zhang a bath. Afterward, she dusted him with talcum powder brought by Chen Xin, then handed the sweet-smelling little chubby boy to his grandmother, who carried him out to play on the cool bed in the yard.

There was little entertainment in the mountain evenings; the family sat outside to enjoy the breeze, chatted about local gossip, and went to bed early.

In the countryside, mosquito repellents weren’t coils but bundles of dried mugwort and other roadside plants. Zhang Zhang wasn’t used to the smoke and scent at first, sneezing several times, leaving Grandma Zhang torn about whether to extinguish it. But without it, the mosquitoes would be relentless, and every bite left a big welt on his tender skin—she couldn’t bear to see him suffer. Yet, before she could fret too long, Zhang Zhang adapted to the smell and turned his attention back to his toys.

His toys were a set of nine-link rings and a Rubik’s cube, both bought for him by Chen Xin. He loved them dearly, never tiring of play.

The second sister was now in good health, with her pregnancy symptoms gone and her appetite increased—her meals rivaled her eldest brother’s. She’d been living at her parents’ home for some time, and her in-laws had initially objected, but her husband spent a day convincing his mother. Since their previous child was taken by her own parents, this child was the first to truly live with them. So, even if her mother-in-law still harbored some resentment, she didn’t pursue the matter further.

This time, the second sister planned to rest for two days, then visit her mother-in-law with her husband. She’d been away nearly two months, and her belly was now sizable. She doubted she could help much with the farm’s construction, so she focused on organizing paperwork and applying for rural assistance. Meanwhile, her husband had submitted a report at work, tasked with supervising several high-altitude agricultural pilot projects. As team leader, his hours were long, and having a weekend at home once a month was considered fortunate.

The workload was heavy, but fulfilling. His report had even been requested by the county agriculture and animal husbandry bureau, which was seeking ways to help impoverished high-altitude villages prosper. If their research institute found a viable method, the county would surely support their efforts.

The whole family was busy today, and though exhausted, their hearts brimmed with enthusiasm, for they could see a promising future ahead—where there was a goal, there was motivation.

While the Zhangs were gearing up for their ambitious venture, Chen Xin and Liu Chunyan were in the south, preparing to take over a canning factory.

This food factory specialized in meat and fish products, but due to conflicts among the partners, it had struggled after only two or three years in operation. The transfer price was fair, but the greatest challenge lay in expertise: the original partners had the technical know-how, so Chen Xin and Liu Chunyan would need to hire a consultant, which wouldn’t be cheap.

Initially, they planned to invest through their company, but Cheng Jie disagreed. She felt the company’s resources were too limited to branch out so widely, preferring steady, step-by-step growth within their familiar industry.

They took Cheng Jie’s advice to heart, but the opportunity was rare—if they passed it up, they might not see another like it for years.

Just as they were considering borrowing startup funds and arranging a mortgage, Liu Chunyan’s sister-in-law called, expressing willingness to cooperate—but only with her sister-in-law, not outsiders.

The implication was clear: she didn’t want to team up with Chen Xin. Coincidentally, Chen Xin wasn’t eager to work with her either, so she withdrew from the deal, treating it as a learning experience alongside Liu Chunyan.