Little Jiu's expression made one think he was worried the fruit trees might sprout legs and run away.
Su Xiaotian stood beneath the large pear tree. The fragrance of the soft pear was even more intense here than elsewhere.
She looked up. She had to admit, a king among trees was indeed a king among trees – tall and mighty, looking down upon its younger counterparts.
Inhaling the unique aroma of the soft pears, Su Xiaotian's mouth began to water.
In her heart, no other fruit could compare to the soft pear, which she longed for so deeply.
After her rebirth, she had finally waited for the soft pears to ripen.
"Second Brother, Second Brother, hurry up!" Little Jiu called out, hopping and skipping, extremely impatient.
He also wanted to climb the tree, but he was too young. Grandma Su feared he would fall and didn't allow him.
In the end, it was the three Su brothers, the six eldest among the younger generation, and Li Zhuzi who climbed the trees to pick the fruit.
About ten people scrambled up the trees like monkeys, each going their own way on the vast pear tree.
The rest of the people were responsible for waiting below. Once the baskets were full and lowered by rope, they would pile the pears together.
As everyone busied themselves, Su Xiaotian, who had been feeling bored, finally got the chance to communicate with the old pear tree.
She extended her fair little hand and gently stroked the old pear tree's thick trunk. As expected, she heard the old pear tree's hoarse voice.
Su Xiaotian immediately began conversing with the old pear tree. To avoid appearing foolish, she stroked the tree and walked around it in circles.
No one noticed what Su Xiaotian was doing. They all assumed she was just playing around the old pear tree.
Possessing the "Grass and Wood Exquisite Heart," Su Xiaotian was chatting with the old pear tree, talking about interesting events in Hongxin Brigade, stories she hadn't heard before, and the rise and fall of families in Hongxin Brigade.
The old pear tree was much older than the oldest person in Hongxin Brigade. No one knew when it was planted. Even Grandpa Su said that as far as he could remember, it had always been an old pear tree.
From the old pear tree, Su Xiaotian learned many old stories.
Su Xiaotian discovered that besides reading, chatting with trees was also very interesting.
"An elder at home is like a treasure." The saying was indeed true. Experience and knowledge were very important.
"Old Pear Tree, do you know if there was a wealthy landlord here before? I heard their family has no descendants left."
Su Xiaotian suddenly remembered this and asked.
"I know. You're talking about the Pei family," the old pear tree's voice was still hoarse, but Su Xiaotian felt a change in its tone.
"The Pei family?"
"In the early years, I was brought here and planted by the Pei family," the old pear tree said again. "The Pei family was truly a benevolent household. It's a pity..."
Su Xiaotian hadn't expected such a connection between the old pear tree and the landlord's family, or rather, the Pei family the old pear tree spoke of.
"Do you know where their descendants went?"
"I don't know. I only remember that year when bandits came. The Pei family hid all their valuables in advance, but they were captured by the bandits. I can only see things around me. After the Pei family was taken away, I didn't know anything else. Later, some people said that all the members of the Pei family were killed by the bandits! I don't know if it's true!"
Su Xiaotian felt that the old pear tree's voice carried a sense of loss and sadness, and she couldn't help but feel sad too.
"Old Pear Tree, good fortune favors the kind. I heard that your original owner, the Pei family, was a benevolent household, so they must have escaped disaster." Su Xiaotian didn't know why she said such a comforting thing to the old pear tree.
"Alas, it's all in the past. I, the old pear tree, am already very old and probably won't last a few more years," the old pear tree said with a hoarse voice. "It's been decades, but none of the Pei family has returned. The possibility of their return is slim!"
Su Xiaotian didn't know how to comfort the sad old pear tree. She could only extend her tender white hand and slowly caress the rough trunk of the old pear tree.
"Little girl, the Pei family hid all their treasures in four places. Can I ask you to guard them for me? The period is ten years. If the Pei family doesn't return, those treasures will be yours. If someone from the Pei family returns within ten years, you will return the Pei family's property to its rightful owners."
Su Xiaotian was startled and said, "Old Pear Tree, this won't do."
"When the old pear tree dies, even if the Pei family returns, they won't be able to find those treasures. Therefore, the old pear tree is asking you."
Su Xiaotian fell silent, not expecting that plants could also have feelings.
"I promise you, Old Pear Tree. Tell me the locations, and I absolutely will not touch those treasures within ten years." Su Xiaotian finally decided to agree.
The old pear tree indeed told Su Xiaotian four addresses. What made Su Xiaotian confused was that one of them was not the box of gold and jewelry on the mountain.
"Old Pear Tree, I found a box on the mountain. Isn't that the Pei family's property?"
"On the mountain?" The old pear tree uttered two words and then fell silent.
After a long silence, just when Su Xiaotian thought she had suddenly lost her ability to communicate, the old pear tree finally spoke again.
"Those events from so long ago, the old pear tree can hardly remember them. After thinking for a long time, those treasures were probably hidden by the bandits and should have nothing to do with the Pei family."
Su Xiaotian felt a sense of relief. It was good that it had nothing to do with the Pei family. Even if other people's wealth was in her own home, it always felt like it wasn't her own.
If they were left by bandits, she wouldn't feel any pressure when using them in the future!
Just as Su Xiaotian was about to continue chatting with the old pear tree, she suddenly heard a commotion not far away.
Her communication was interrupted. Su Xiaotian looked in the direction of the shouting.
Following the sound, it was quite far, and with the shadows of the trees, she couldn't see clearly.
"Forget it, it has nothing to do with me. It's more enjoyable to chat with the old pear tree!"
Su Xiaotian didn't have much curiosity and turned back to continue chatting with the old pear tree.
But the argument grew fiercer, truly spoiling the mood.
"What's wrong with those educated youths? They're just picking pears, and they're given the smallest tree. Why are they arguing?" Grandma Su said with a hint of disdain.
"It has nothing to do with us!" Li Zhuzi was now wary of the educated youths!
The team leader, Su Changjiu, could no longer stand it and had to put down his own fruit tree to mediate and resolve the problem.
"What's going on with you few?" Su Changjiu said with a stern face.
"Team Leader, your arrangement isn't very reasonable. None of us can climb trees. How are we supposed to pick the fruit?" Kang Yiye said, standing under the tree with her arms crossed, a half-smile on her face.
Kang Yiye had returned some time ago, but since her return, the educated youth point refused to take her back.
The educated youths had a valid reason: they said that having someone with such a tarnished reputation living at the educated youth point would affect the reputation of all the educated youths.
As the team leader, Su Changjiu had no choice. After Kang Yiye's quilt was thrown out of the educated youth point several times, he could only find someone to slightly repair a dilapidated house at the head of the village that had been lived in by a childless couple, for Kang Yiye to stay in temporarily.
If Kang Yiye were a self-respecting person, it would be fine. But she wasn't.
Living alone at the head of the village made things even more convenient for her. She began to flirt with the men in the village intentionally or unintentionally.
Although the atmosphere in Hongxin Brigade was still quite good, with such a proactive woman who didn't require the men to pay any price, there were still a few men who couldn't control their lower halves and became Kang Yiye's guests.
After the news spread, the educated youths felt even more ashamed. Not only did they not talk to her, but they also avoided her from a distance when they saw her.
However, when picking fruit today, the team leader assigned the educated youths to a tree. At first, the educated youths intended to endure it, but Kang Yiye not only didn't work but also spoke sarcastically, and a conflict arose.
Several educated youths were diligently picking fruit. Kang Yiye had thrown the baskets under the tree and refused to move them.
As soon as Kang Yiye finished speaking, before Su Changjiu could even speak, a male educated youth said, "Team Leader, let's work with the commune members. We're really not good at climbing trees."
How could Su Changjiu not know that it wasn't about not being good at climbing trees, but rather that they were unwilling to pick fruit with Kang Yiye?
The male educated youths were afraid of being entangled by Kang Yiye, while the female educated youths were afraid that getting close to Kang Yiye would ruin their reputation.
In fact, not many people in the commune were willing to pick fruit with Kang Yiye.
He had also considered this point when he placed the educated youths together.
Su Changjiu scanned the faces of everyone and said, "Is this what you all think?"
Several educated youths immediately nodded, indicating that this was what they all thought.
"Since you all want to pick fruit with the commune members, then find the commune members who are willing to team up with you yourselves. I am not responsible for the allocation."
The team leader really didn't want to deal with this, but he had to.
These educated youth kids were useless at everything else but were the first to cause trouble.
However, the team leader couldn't say this, lest others accuse him of discrimination.
As soon as the team leader expressed his stance, several educated youths immediately headed towards the families they had chosen, their steps as fast as if they were oiled.
The two teachers from the school exchanged glances and headed straight for the Old Su family.
Firstly, they felt that the Old Su family had many people and would surely complete the task quickly; secondly, they were familiar with the Old Su family.
After all, in the entire Hongxin Brigade, there were very few families that could afford to send their children to school.
After stating their intentions, Grandpa Su and Grandma Su both expressed their welcome.
They also explicitly stated that after picking the fruit from this pear tree, they would also pick the fruit from the educated youths' tree.
As for the other educated youths, they all had families they had already chosen and went to them, and were successfully taken in.
In the end, only Kang Yiye was left under the original pear tree.
Kang Yiye's expression was not good. Did these people think she couldn't see that they despised her?
They were all educated youths, who was nobler than whom?
Glancing around the orchard, Kang Yiye put on a weak and delicate demeanor and walked towards where Accountant Li's family was.
Accountant Li and Su Taohua, along with their children, were busy picking fruit.
Su Taohua was a very straightforward and capable person, working enthusiastically with her children, while Accountant Li pretended to be cultured and shied away from hard work.
Just then, Kang Yiye's soft and delicate voice rang out.
"Brother Li, Sister-in-law, can I join you in picking fruit?"
Kang Yiye's voice carried a hint of delicacy and softness, even a bit of coquetry.
Such a voice was hard for any man to resist.
Accountant Li indeed felt his entire body go soft.
In Hongxin Brigade, he was a live-in son-in-law. People here either called him Accountant Li or brother-in-law, uncle, etc., which, in Accountant Li's opinion, all implied a subordinate status.
Kang Yiye's address of "Brother Li" and "Sister-in-law" greatly satisfied Accountant Li's male ego.
He didn't even ask Su Taohua if she agreed and immediately said, "Of, of course, you can!"
Su Taohua looked down on women like Kang Yiye and immediately let out a cold snort.
Accountant Li then reacted, but looking at Su Taohua's cold face and then at Kang Yiye's smiling face, he instantly felt that women should be like Kang Yiye.
Blinded by lust, Accountant Li no longer cared about his wife's thoughts and directly said, "I am the accountant of the brigade, and it is appropriate for Kang Zhiqing to seek out my family! As a cadre, I have an obligation to help our educated youth comrades!"
Kang Yiye smiled softly and thanked Accountant Li, looking truly charming.
Accountant Li listened to Kang Yiye's voice and thought of his own tigress, feeling that his life was truly unfortunate.
Thinking of Kang Zhiqing, a woman from the city, who was also so beautiful and spoke to him like this, he felt that marrying such a woman would be truly living.
Su Taohua, for the sake of Accountant Li's reputation, didn't want to embarrass him in front of so many people, so she ignored Kang Yiye and continued to work.
She didn't realize that the man so close to her had already drifted to another woman.
Kang Yiye actively communicated with Accountant Li, and Accountant Li kept showing off his eagerness to please.
Su Taohua was so angry that she almost smashed the basket in her hand onto the two of them, but she held back in the end.
However, people around them couldn't help but point and stare.
Some even shouted at Accountant Li, "Accountant Li, what are you doing?"
"Helping an educated youth comrade from the city. Su Xiaohua, you can't see things so narrowly," Accountant Li said righteously. "Kang Zhiqing is a weak female comrade, how can I, a grown man, not help her?"
Su Taohua was almost driven mad by these words. She glared at her husband and called out to her children, "Let's go, let's switch to another tree. This tree is for your father!"
Su Taohua's children looked at Kang Yiye with resentment. The youngest son even grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it at Kang Yiye, his eyes full of hatred.
"Oh my, what is this? Accountant Li, it seems your family doesn't welcome me. *Sob sob*, it's my fault, I'll go pick by myself over there!" Kang Yiye pretended to leave.
"Kang Zhiqing, don't mind them. This child is spoiled by his mother. See if I don't skin him when we get back!" Accountant Li glared fiercely at his youngest son and appeased Kang Yiye.
Fortunately, Su Taohua had already walked away by this time, otherwise, she would have been infuriated to death by Accountant Li's words.
Everyone was working, taking a moment to watch the drama unfolding here.
Just then, everyone suddenly heard the sound of a car.
This sound had appeared in Hongxin Brigade several times, and the people of Hongxin Brigade were already accustomed to it.
"The county's big leaders are here again," someone said first.
"It's just the county's big leaders,"
Someone else said, "I wonder if Manxiu is back with them."
"Does she still have the face to come back?" Liu Xiuying snorted. "A woman who doesn't even care about her own man!"
"Liu Xiuying, that's not right of you!" someone said, unable to stand it.
"What's wrong with me? A man is a woman's heaven. Su Manxiu took her heaven to the mine, and she's still right?" Liu Xiuying pouted.
Fortunately, everyone in the brigade knew what kind of person Liu Xiuying was, so they didn't argue with her.
Under everyone's gaze, Su Manxiu and Chen Zi'an got out of the car one after another.
The people in the brigade looked at Su Manxiu and tutted, saying that Manxiu looked even younger than before.
It had to be said that Su Manxiu now had much better spirits than before.
During her time in the city, she had gained a little weight and was no longer as thin as before, so her complexion naturally looked much better.
Her skin also looked smoother and more radiant, and her shy demeanor with a hint of blush made her even more beautiful.
Moreover, she was wearing a brand-new set of clothes, and new shoes given by Qi Liangying, making her look several years younger.
"Xiu'er, you're back?" Seeing that her eldest daughter was doing well, Grandma Su's recent oppression was finally relieved.
She had always been worried about what would happen if her eldest daughter didn't do well in the city. But she dared not say it, for fear of making the other members of the family worry.
Now that she saw it with her own eyes, she could finally be at ease.
"Mom, I just happened to have a holiday, so I came home to visit," Su Manxiu said with a smile, taking Grandma Su's hand.
"Auntie, are you picking fruit today?" Chen Zi'an asked, looking at the bustling scene.
Grandma Su felt that Chen Zi'an this time seemed a little different from before, but she couldn't figure out exactly how.
Of course, it was mainly because her mind was full of her daughter, and she had no time to consider Chen Zi'an's issues.
"Yes, the fruit from our brigade's old pear tree is very sweet. You've come at the right time today. After the fruit is distributed this afternoon, Minister Chen can take some back to try."
Chen Zi'an neither agreed nor refused. He looked at the people on the tree and said cheerfully, "Little Five, Little Six, you two come down, I'll go up and pick. I'm faster than you."
Little Five and Little Six were indeed a bit young. Although they were agile, their fruit-picking speed was not slow at all.
Little Five and Little Six exchanged a look and obediently got down from the tree. Chen Zi'an climbed up the tree in a few steps, going to the highest point.
This position was too high, and most people wouldn't dare to go up, but Chen Zi'an climbed up very nimbly.
Moreover, Chen Zi'an's hands and feet were agile, and he picked fruit very quickly, soon filling a basket.
He tied the basket to a grass rope and then lowered the basket to the bottom of the tree.
Little Five and Little Six immediately stepped forward and, with admiration, poured the fruit from the basket onto the ground.
"Uncle Chen is indeed much more capable than us."
"Uncle Chen is the most capable. I want to be as capable as Uncle Chen when I grow up."