Chapter 151: Chapter 151: A Suspicious Coincidence

An Ning sat at the very back of the brigade headquarters. When she heard they were going to draw lots to divide the land, she felt a thrill of excitement.

’I’m finally getting my own land.’

An Ning wasn’t the only one who was excited.

Most of the villagers below were jumping for joy, though a few weren’t so happy.

When they worked collectively, they could slack off.

But from now on, the land would be their own, so slacking off wasn’t an option.

If they were lazy, there would be no one to cover for them anymore.

"Alright, alright, let’s start drawing lots. We’ll begin with the northern plots. We’ll go by clan, so each clan sends one person up to draw."

In the meeting hall, people shot to their feet and rushed forward, afraid the good spots would be taken by others.

In reality, drawing lots was very fair.

Each family would be assigned a section from a good plot, and also a section from a bad plot.

A clan referred to those who shared the same grandfather.

For example, Anning’s house and Uncle An’s household were part of the same clan, so their lands would be adjacent.

However, someone like An Ercheng, An Ning’s second uncle, wouldn’t get any land because his household registration wasn’t here.

An Ning simply sat in the back and didn’t go forward. Even when An Sancheng called for her to draw the lot, she didn’t go.

She had spiritual power and was afraid she wouldn’t be able to resist cheating. ’Better not go.’

In the end, An Sancheng went himself.

The lot drawing was divided into three rounds. Every plot had a surplus. Once the records were made and the division was complete, all it took was a walk through the fields to see the results.

There was one thing An Ning had always admired: how farmers could always find their specific few rows within a vast field, without ever making a mistake.

The land division continued for a good while. Only after it finally ended did Sun Dazhuang bring up the matter of An Ning leasing the mountain.

"The mountain has already been leased to An Ning. From now on, that’s her property. It’s not a place you can all go to whenever you feel like it. It’s just like your own courtyard—you can’t just do whatever you want in there. Everyone remember that."

"Also, as a result of this mountain lease, every household will receive three hundred forty-seven yuan and eighty cents. In a moment, each household can come up to collect the money."

The villagers hadn’t expected to receive money.

Just like that, no one had any objections.

"One last thing. Our village still has a lot of leftover land. Anyone who wants to lease some, come see me. Same goes for the other mountains. If you’re willing to clear the wilderness, whatever you develop is yours for a period of twenty years."

After Sun Dazhuang finished with the last item, the meeting was dismissed.

The villagers started heading home to grab burlap sacks, baskets, and all sorts of containers. It was time to divide the grain.

It wasn’t just grain; the village’s tools and other equipment were also being distributed.

An Ning didn’t go home. One person was enough to get the sacks.

"An Ning, come here for a second."

Sun Dazhuang called out to An Ning. She walked over, happening to have something to discuss with him as well.

"Village Chief, what is it?"

"It’s like this. Now that everything is being privatized, that tractor... your family should just drive it home. It was a gift for you."

"No need. I’ve decided to gift it to the village."

An Ning had made great strides when it came to understanding the give-and-take of social obligations.

"An Ning, it would be a lie to say we don’t want it, but have you thought this through? You should ask your dad and all."

"No need, I can make the decision. Just accept it, Captain."

Without giving Sun Dazhuang time to respond, An Ning immediately asked about the matter she was concerned with.

"I’d like to lease some land. Preferably, some that connects to my mountain plot. Is there any available?"

Sun Dazhuang was a sharp man and went along with the change of subject.

"Yes, there’s a lot of empty land over there, right by the mountain. It’s far out, so it has the most vacant plots. How much do you want to lease?"

"How much is there?"

An Ning’s question startled Captain Sun.

"There are seventy or eighty mu of land. You’re not thinking of taking it all, are you?"

An Ning just smiled faintly and asked, not looking like she was joking, "Can I take it all?"

Hearing this, Sun Dazhuang realized she was actually considering it.

"An Ning, it’s possible, but you should still go home and discuss it. Can you really make use of all that land?"

"Alright, I’ll go back and discuss it."

This time, An Ning relented.

At that moment, the people who had gone home for sacks were gradually returning.

An Ning joined the An family’s group. Along with her cousins and their wives from Uncle An’s household, she first helped deliver Uncle An’s household’s share of the grain.

After they were done with Uncle An’s household, they all worked together to take the grain back to Anning’s house.

By the time all that was done, it was already afternoon.

Lin Cuihua got busy preparing a meal while An Ning had just finished telling An Sancheng about her plan to lease the land.

An Sancheng, naturally, had no objections. He wouldn’t stand in the way of anything An Ning wanted to do.

An Ning also brought her eldest brother and sister-in-law to discuss the matter of raising livestock with An Sancheng.

"Fine, Eldest, you go ahead and do it. I’ll give you the money. Whether you profit or lose, it’s all on you. Once you’re both established, we’ll split the family."

"Dad—"

An Guoqing was unwilling.

"’Dad’ what ’Dad’? Do I need your permission to split the family? Besides, look how old you all are. Am I supposed to manage you for the rest of my life? Your mother and I want to rest, too."

"We’ll talk after Little Three gets into university." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

A single glare from An Sancheng was enough to silence An Guoqing.

An Ning, on the other hand, thought it was a great idea. It was just splitting the family in name only. They all lived close by, and it would reduce financial conflicts, which would be for the best.

An Ning was still at her spot by the stove, poking the flames inside with a wooden stick.

"An Ning—phone call!"

An Ning put down the fire poker, gave her spot to An Guoping, and ran outside herself.

’It must be Director Jin. There’s news.’

When An Ning arrived at the brigade headquarters and looked at the number left for her, it was indeed Director Jin’s.

She dialed the number back.

"BEEP—"

"An Ning?"

"It’s me."

Director Jin started talking, his words rapid and laced with anger.

"I asked around. Jiang Dongcheng’s three designs are exactly the same as ours."

"There’s no such thing as that much of a coincidence in this world. I gave the blueprints you gave me to the municipal machinery factory. I asked Li Chengze, and he said their factory director took those three blueprints to the provincial authorities. After that, they somehow became Jiang Dongcheng’s designs."

"Li Chengze has gone to the provincial capital. He wants to see the blueprints in person and confirm if they’re the ones you originally provided."

"Son of a bitch! That Jiang Dongcheng is a real piece of work!"

An Ning held the phone as Director Jin, on the other end, started cursing up a storm.

"Director Jin, as soon as you hear from Li Chengze, please notify me immediately. Don’t do anything. I have my own plans."

"Huh? Alright, I’ll definitely let you know. I’m not going anywhere, I’ll wait right here for news."

Director Jin was genuinely furious. With this one move, Jiang Dongcheng had erased all the credit he was due.

An Ning said a few placating words and hung up the phone.

She walked out of the brigade headquarters, her head bowed in thought.

"You’re going to walk into a tree."

An Ning knew it was Jiang Xia’s voice without looking up.

"Where’s the tree?"

Jiang Xia hopped down from his family’s wall with a mischievous grin.

"There isn’t one now, but if you keep walking like that for a little longer, there will be."

"Oh... I thought you were going to conjure a tree out of thin air."

An Ning retorted smoothly and kept walking.

Jiang Xia, completely unbothered, walked over and said, "If only I had that kind of power. I’d just conjure up whatever I wanted."

"What’s up with you? Something on your mind? Why don’t you let this young master have a listen?"

"I’m telling you, my skills are nothing to scoff at."

An Ning stopped and stared at Jiang Xia for ten seconds.

"Hmm, your face is a little big."

Then she walked away again.

Behind her, Jiang Xia reached out a hand, which hung frozen in the air for a long moment.

"Hey... why the personal attack?"

An Ning didn’t turn back. She stuck her arms straight out to her sides, her whole body spread wide.

She swayed from side to side, waddling like a penguin.

Behind her, Jiang Xia was so amused by An Ning’s antics that he burst out laughing, doubling over with glee.

"HAHAHAHAHA—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa... Crap!"

"THUD!"

An Ning turned around curiously, then happily ran back to watch the spectacle.

Jiang Xia, who had fallen into the drainage ditch, lay sprawled on his back, looking up at An Ning, who was grinning and showing her pearly white teeth. He heard her say:

"Jiang Xia, you and ditches seem to share a special bond."

"How about I give you a new nickname? Jiang Gougou?"