The news of the fourth generation being born into the Su family quickly reached the village.
The messenger was Li Zhuzi.
Li Zhuzi had always maintained a good relationship with the Su family, treating Grandpa Su and Grandma Su as his own elders and showing them filial respect.
He called them twice a month to inquire about their health.
The Su family also called Li Zhuzi, either to share information on profitable ventures or to ask about the health of Li family's children.
In short, the two families felt like one.
Li Zhuzi brought this news back to Nanling Village and first informed the village chief, Su Changjiu.
Su Changjiu, holding his pipe, was silent for a long time.
According to village custom, when a family had a baby, others would visit and bring gifts.
With the Su family welcoming a fourth-generation member, gifts were expected.
However, Beijing was too far, and organizing such a trip would be too burdensome.
Soon, the people of Nanling Village learned that Su Shouwen had a son, and everyone had their own auspicious remarks.
Some mentioned that the little accountant already had a son, while others said the young man was blessed to have a son, ensuring descendants.
There were even comments about the little one being fortunate to be born into the Su family to enjoy a life of ease.
In any case, everyone held good wishes for the birth of young Su Zile.
The lives of the people in Nanling Village were much better now. Since the implementation of the household contract responsibility system, everyone's life had improved.
Except for a few of the laziest families in the village whose conditions were slightly worse, everyone else was living a much better life than in previous years.
Moreover, during the New Year, Su Xiao Si had returned and shown them a way forward.
He suggested they make handicrafts during their leisure time. While it wouldn't bring in a lot of money, it would earn some.
In fact, people in nearby villages had also considered this path.
However, they couldn't find a market for their handicrafts, and they ended up with unsold goods.
Nanling Village was different. As long as the products were up to standard, Su Xiao Si would purchase them at a good price.
As Su Xiao Si had said, although it wouldn't make a lot of money, it was a profitable side business that could be done at home.
The villagers used their time after dinner, during lunch breaks, and on rainy days when they couldn't work in the fields to do some handicraft work, which didn't require much time or effort.
The villagers made quite a lot, and Su Xiao Si, as promised, had Li Zhuzi come to buy them all.
Several hardworking families in the village had earned over a hundred yuan during this period.
This income was even better than their annual income from farming, which made others envious.
Even families with fewer members or less experience in handicrafts had earned dozens of yuan.
This was comparable to a city worker's monthly salary.
They were all very happy and genuinely grateful to the Su family.
When the Su family had moved to Beijing, there were also reports that the Su family was doing well. The villagers were not without envy.
But now, it was different. The Su family, having improved their own lives, had not forgotten to help their fellow villagers.
This showed they remembered the bond of living in the same village.
That's just how people are.
When you have money, others will envy and be jealous. If you give it to them directly, you might not receive praise.
After all, people have inherent flaws. Things that are too easily obtained are not cherished, and some might even feel that it's only right.
Ultimately, greed can grow, and they might even feel that what they received was too little.
But if you let them earn it through their own efforts, they won't harbor ill intentions. They will consider earning money through their own hard work to be reasonable and will be grateful for your kindness.
This is why the Su family decided from the beginning not to take on everything themselves but to let the villagers earn money through their own efforts.
The Su family did not want to raise a bunch of ungrateful people who would suck blood from the Su family and then bite back.
Now, the villagers only felt gratitude towards the Su family. After all, people in other villages who made handicrafts didn't earn money and even lost money.
Only the people of Nanling Village had earned money, which was a tremendous kindness.
Upon hearing of Su Shouwen's son's birth, the villagers were overjoyed, even happier than if it were their own child.
As they discussed, they inevitably talked about how to thank the Su family during their joyous occasion.
Under the large willow tree in the village, many people, after finishing their meals, held their work in their hands as they talked.
The men were doing straw weaving, and the women were doing needlework, each with their own division of labor, but all earning money.
"Village Chief, why don't we go to Beijing to see the Su family and bring some of our local specialties as gifts for the Su family's child?"
Someone made this suggestion.
His proposal was indeed met with everyone's approval.
It wasn't like the past few years; travel was free now. One could simply buy a train ticket to Beijing.
They said Beijing was paved with gold, and the Su family only started living a good life after moving to Beijing. They also had a desire to see it for themselves.
Perhaps they could also live a good life like the Su family.
"This trip will cost quite a bit of money. Are you all willing to spend so much?" Su Changjiu asked coolly, glancing at the approving crowd.
A trip to Beijing, even if they could stay with the Su family upon arrival, would still incur significant travel expenses.
As soon as he said this, the voices of the crowd indeed quieted down.
"But we can't show no appreciation. Otherwise, perhaps the village can send representatives to visit?" an elder suggested.
"I think that's a good idea."
"I agree!"
"But who should go?"
"How about the Village Chief?"
"But what if I want to go too?"
...
Suddenly, the area under the big willow tree became noisy again.
Who in the village didn't want to go to Beijing to broaden their horizons?
This was also an opportunity for a government-funded trip, so naturally, people would compete and scramble for it.
But since someone was to be sent, only a few could go, and everyone hoped that these few would be themselves.
"I think we should send someone, but this person will have to bear their own train ticket. Who is willing to go?"
Seeing that the argument was escalating, an elder offered his opinion.
While it was important to express gratitude for the Su family's kindness, they shouldn't let it disrupt the harmony among everyone.
As soon as this was said, the voices of the crowd indeed quieted down considerably.
It was a joke. If they had to pay for themselves, they might as well have worked for free for a year, just to fuel the train!
They heard that train tickets to Beijing were very expensive.
"Village Chief, I think it's best if you go. After all, you are our village chief, our representative."
Seeing that everyone was clearly unwilling to pay for the trip, a quick-witted person immediately offered their suggestion.
As soon as this idea was put forward, many people expressed their agreement.
Su Changjiu snorted. These people were truly calculating.
If the village had to pay, they probably wouldn't agree to go themselves, but now that they had to pay out of pocket, they remembered he was the village chief.
Just as Su Changjiu was about to say something, he saw Li Zhuzi approaching.