Chapter 215: 215 return
"What about the previous land? There’s still thirty or forty acres, right?" Zhao Yanping asked.
"We’ll keep planting it, after all, that land has been taken care of. I’m thinking of planting cotton on these thirty or forty acres, even if it’s just two or three acres, as long as there’s enough for me to make cotton clothes and bedding for the winter, it’s fine."
"Yuanyuan, did you bring back some cotton seeds?"
"Yes, I brought some. Do you want to plant them?"
"We want to plant a few acres too, especially since there are kids now."
"Sure, I’m planning to cultivate seedlings, and when it’s time, you can just transplant them."
"Yuanyuan, I’ll come and help you work." Zhao Yanli said with a smile.
"Sounds good, I’ll make you some good food."
"Yuanyuan, are you and Tan Shaoting going to be together?" Zhao Xiaojing couldn’t help but ask.
Su Yuanyuan was taken aback, understanding the implication behind Zhao Xiaojing’s awkward expression.
She felt a bit upset, as if something of hers was being coveted by someone else.
Su Yuanyuan was startled at this thought. Since when did I start seeing Tan Shaoting as mine?
Zhao Yanping and Zhao Yanli looked at Zhao Xiaojing helplessly. How could their younger sister not understand? Those two are already living together, there’s a high chance they’ll be together.
And even if they aren’t together, does that mean you have a chance? Tan Shaoting is someone coveted by many.
Su Yuanyuan suppressed her uncertainty. "I don’t know; I haven’t really thought about that question yet."
"Why not? You’re already fourteen, considered a grown girl." Zhao Xiaojing was anxious.
Still not giving up, she needed a definite answer to dispel her hopes.
"Tan Shaoting and I have talked about it, but I feel we’re still young, with too many uncertainties, so we haven’t decided yet."
"Did Tan Shaoting mention becoming a family? Becoming husband and wife?"
Su Yuanyuan nodded with furrowed brows, "Yes, that’s what he said."
Zhao Xiaojing’s shoulders slumped. It’s time to let go. Let it go. Don’t have unrealistic ideas anymore. They are meant to be together. Moreover, Yuanyuan is a familiar person, practically like a sister.
This would be unethical. And besides, Tan Shaoting might not even consider her.
The atmosphere turned awkward. Zhao Yanli awkwardly held Su Yuanyuan’s hand.
"Yuanyuan, we wrote a letter home telling my parents that my eldest brother got married. I wonder if they received it."
Su Yuanyuan looked at the awkward young girl, thinking to herself, this isn’t really your problem. Why are you feeling awkward?
"They probably received it, but a reply might be slow, especially with the heavy snow here."
"I figured as much." Although she resented her father back then, no parent is truly unforgivable. How can children genuinely hold a grudge against their parents?
It’s been more than two years, and all dissatisfaction has faded. Only the longing for her parents remains.
Su Yuanyuan liked Zhao Yanli this way. She was kind-hearted, simple, and forgiving, a friend worth having.
At this moment, they could smell the sweet scent of roasted sweet potatoes.
"Second Brother is roasting sweet potatoes," Zhao Yanli said excitedly.
"Today, come back with me; there’s plenty of sweet potatoes, potatoes, and winter melon in the cellar. You can take some back."
They most likely won’t join Zhao Qingxiang for dinner, so it’s all right to give them an extra share.
"Thank you, Yuanyuan. We’ll certainly repay you in the future."
Even though they knew this wasn’t something that could be repaid, for now, they could only express it verbally to ease their conscience a bit.
Su Yuanyuan nodded with a smile, thus making them feel less burdened, as debts of kindness are hard to repay.
Zhao Xiaojing backed away and lowered her head without saying a word, feeling upset at the moment.
Yet she knew it was pointless to be upset; Tan Shaoting was completely unaware.
Zhao Yanli dragged Su Yuanyuan to talk about special topics outside.
Su Yuanyuan shared some interesting stories with her.
About half an hour later, Zhao Qingjie brought in four pieces of sweet potato.
"Eat up, they’re perfectly roasted."
Meanwhile, on the way, it took Tan Shaoting almost an hour to drive back to the farm. The roads were in bad shape, and sometimes when he skidded, he had to help push the cart.
Feng Baoshan stood up happily upon seeing Tan Shaoting return.
"You’re back?"
"Yes, Director Feng, we’re back."
"Where’s Xiao Su?"
"At the Zhao family; the livestock there needed to be looked after for several months."
Feng Baoshan nodded, understanding.
"How did the mission go?"
Both sides understood there were things that couldn’t be asked or said.
"We finished it and then came back."
And that was enough, just a nodding acknowledgment.
Tan Shaoting was there just to greet and let him know they’d returned.
"Director Feng, the winter wheat isn’t too good, but it’s not entirely hopeless, right?"
"I’ve checked several times and I still can’t be sure."
"We’ll find out in at most a month."
"I figure if it survives, it can overwinter. We’ll try again this fall."
Feng Baoshan smiled after hearing Tan Shaoting’s words, "No worries, go ahead and try. I’ll report any losses, you’ll be reimbursed."
Tan Shaoting chuckled, "Thank you, Director Feng."
The outside matters were not discussed further, so they talked about what to do after the thaw.
"We brought back over a thousand pounds of wheat seeds. This year we’ll plant one hundred acres of wheat."
"So there’s extra seed?"
Tan Shaoting nodded, "But I think Su Yuanyuan will definitely give some to the Zhao family, and Group Leader Ma also wants to plant wheat. I’m not sure how much will be left."
Feng Baoshan nodded, "Whatever’s left, the farm will buy."
Tan Shaoting nodded, there would be no problem with that.
"Xiao Tan, you have the fertilizer coupons, should you go arrange some?"
Tan Shaoting thought for a moment, "Sure, I’ll discuss it with Su Yuanyuan, and we’ll go over there in the next few days."
In their eagerness to return home, they had indeed forgotten about this.
"Alright, discuss it, the farm will cover the cost."
After a few more words, Tan Shaoting drove to the Zhao family, but first stopped by Zhao Qingxiang’s to return the donkey cart.
He didn’t enter the house, being quite traditional, especially regarding propriety between men and women, knowing there were three girls in the Zhao family, he definitely wouldn’t go in.
This time, only Zhao Yanli and Zhao Qingjie saw Su Yuanyuan off.
"Yuanyuan, are we going home?"
"Let’s go, we’ll drive back home."
"Yuanyuan, Director Feng said we should go to the fertilizer factory; we have coupons, let’s get some fertilizer."
Su Yuanyuan was taken aback; she had indeed forgotten. Luckily, it wasn’t too late to go now.
"Can we on the way?"
"Let’s go there first and see."
"Alright then, Xiao Li, you’ll need to take care of the animals for a few more days."