Everyone talks about that when working today.

The educated youths know too, wondering if they might have a share?

At noon when work was done, Li Yungui sounded the big bell again. This time, each family left someone at home, as they needed to have lunch, right?

"The dried shrimps and seaweed Aunt Jiang brought back this time, each household gets ten pounds of seaweed, five pounds of dried shrimps.

The price will be discussed when Aunt Jiang returns.

If someone doesn’t like them, they can choose not to take them.

Let’s go to the brigade now to distribute the dried shrimps."

Who wouldn’t want it? In the summer, there are plenty of leeks, and people eat them often. However, when making leek stuffing, they’re reluctant to use oil, only adding a little, and they are even more reluctant to use eggs. So, leek stuffing always ends up spicy, and it feels burning after eating.

But adding some dried shrimps makes a difference. The taste is better, even with less oil, it tastes good.

So no one would miss the distribution, even those who budget carefully came.

Aunt Jiang has said that these dried shrimps are good stuff, beneficial to health.

The villagers firmly believe Aunt Jiang’s words.

Since it’s noon, the distribution is especially fast.

Mainly because Li Cunshan doesn’t want to clean up anymore, he lets them do it themselves.

Men love it, "Yungui, if there’s extra, my family would like to buy more, mix it with scallions, add some fresh peanuts, that’s perfect with a drink."

"Alright, seems like there’s extra, I’ll let you know if there is more."

When it’s Tao Chunhe’s turn, he got five pounds too, which is just right.

This kind of fair dealing makes people feel good. It easily gives outsiders a sense of belonging.

Xu Chunshan also received five pounds, he was quite happy, as there were only two people in his family.

Zheng Mingzhu heard about the dried shrimps and was extremely happy. At home, it was considered the lowest grade, but here, being able to eat dried shrimps is a surprise.

She reminded Xu Chunshan that if they didn’t get any, he should speak nicely or share a bit with other families.

That made things easier since they got five pounds even with just two people.

At the educated youth spot, because there are a lot of people, "Go back and try it, if you think it’s good, I’ll give you an extra five pounds, but make sure to tell everyone it’ll cost money."

Shen Youjun nodded, "Thank you, Village Chief Li."

Guodong went straight home, and there was no sound at home, Master Shang was still sleeping.

He already told Li Xue he wouldn’t have lunch there. Master Shang came back, he wanted to cook for him.

Knowing Shang Zhenkun typically eats light meals, and seeing there was fried dough sticks in the kitchen, he decided to make porridge.

Guodong can handle making porridge. Just green bean rice porridge.

When Shang Zhenkun woke up, he heard the sounds in the kitchen.

With a smile on his face, Guodong was a child like that, not necessarily smart or clever, but definitely likable, because of his sincerity and affection.

Once up, he entered the kitchen. "Master Shang, you’re awake? The rice porridge is almost ready, I’ve stir-fried shredded potatoes." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Alright, aren’t there fried dough sticks too? We can eat those together."

"Yes, I’m just worried you might not like the greasy stuff. Also, having just fried dough sticks would be too dry."

The two ate directly in the kitchen, "Master Shang, when will Aunt Jiang return?"

"Within a week for sure. It’s too hot during the day; they wouldn’t travel then."

"Has Shi Xian caused trouble already?"

"Oh yes? He is not one to suffer losses, among all you kids, he’ll be the one to give Aunt Jiang the biggest headaches in the future." That kid is quite a handful.

"Guodong, I’m going for a stroll, you take a break."

"Alright." Guodong absolutely listens to his elders.

That’s because he grew up without a mother, Lv Beiguang understands well; if it were a family that’s unreasonable and forceful, Guodong would become a mama’s boy.

After lying down for half a day, Shang Zhenkun felt sore all over, which is why he came out.

He saw the blue brick and tile house not far from his place; he knew it was the new house for two educated youths.

He had seen that male educated youth, quite ordinary, a sincere kid.

With fewer people in Li Family Village, each household isn’t far apart, so Shang Zhenkun took an hour to walk around.

He saw another new yard, knowing it’s also for educated youths.

Just when he passed a household’s gate, the door suddenly opened, a pretty girl came out from inside.

Their eyes met. The girl smiled gently; she looked quite sweet.

Voices from the back, then Tao Chunhe also came out.

He saw Shang Zhenkun and knew this person belonged to the Wei Family; he returned with the truck.

"Old master, anything you need?"

Shang Zhenkun smiled and shook his head, "Nothing, just getting older, taking a walk after eating, coincidentally arrived at your door."

"Old master, would you like to come in and sit?"

"No, you guys take a break, I’ll go for another round."

Watching Shang Zhenkun leave, the brother and sister returned to the yard.

"Brother?"

"This is Wei Family, he was the one who returned with the truckload of goods."

"Oh."

In the afternoon, Shang Zhenkun was reading at home, and Li Yungui came over.

"Master Shang, when will Xiao Wei and the others return?"

"Within a week they’ll surely be back."

"Got a date, that’s fine. I’m going to the city tomorrow to deliver roosters, will Old Master Shang join?"

"I can’t move anymore, these old arms and legs. Couldn’t rest well for days.

Can we sell our roosters?"

"Of course, I weighed them, each one is around three and a half pounds.

Xiao Jiang said that once a rooster hits three pounds, its growth slows. Besides, our chicken farm now has over three hundred chickens of various sizes; better to sell quickly, by year-end the small ones will be grown too."

"Right, that’s how it should be."

But Li Yungui’s plan couldn’t come true; in the evening, lightning and thunder started, indicating heavy rain.

Indeed, large raindrops began pouring down.

The two men at home still made porridge, but this time Shang Zhenkun cooked it. In the afternoon, he used a clay pot to simmer sorghum rice porridge; due to the sufficient heat, it’s particularly thick.

"Master Shang, I’ve just moved all the seafood into the side room, but didn’t pack it."

"Hmm, wait until Aunt Jiang returns; I can eat, but I’m not good at handling those."

"Not sure if Aunt Jiang and the others encountered rain on their way." Guodong felt a bit worried.

"It’s just a cloud here."

Just as it turned out, Wei Kaiyun and the others didn’t encounter any rain; in the evening, they took turns driving, but they stopped at eight in the morning to find a place to rest, ensuring neither adults nor children suffer, just spending a bit more money.

"The weather doesn’t seem nice," Old Yang muttered.