"Good!" Ji Chengxuan clapped his hands. "You've got spirit. Let's get this plan rolling!"
Some of the vegetables that Yun Que'er had planted earlier had started to grow. Although they weren't yet market - ready, Yun Que'er and Ji Chengxuan still harvested some. They were busy until evening before heading home.
Old Doctor Ji had gone to a neighboring village to assist a woman in childbirth and hadn't returned by nightfall. So, as usual, Ji Chengxuan had dinner at the Yun family's place.
After dinner, the two of them took the vegetables they'd picked and went to the village entrance.
Yun Que'er fetched some needles and thread from home. As she strung up the green beans one by one, she chatted with Ji Chengxuan.
"I heard that dried beans are even more delicious than fresh ones. I'm going to dry some and give them a try. If they taste good, I'll sell them."
Yun Que'er deliberately raised her voice. Ji Chengxuan looked at her and secretly smiled, then also spoke loudly.
"Your beans are even smaller than your palm. Isn't it too soon to sell them? Can they really taste good?"
Yun Que'er pouted. "What do you know? Even if they're a bit tender, they're the result of my careful care. They must taste better than the ones in our fields. Besides, this is just an experiment. Do you understand the concept of an experiment?"
Their loud conversation soon caught the attention of others.
An old woman sitting under a nearby tree to cool off turned her head and asked curiously, "Did you just say you're going to sell them?"
"Yeah." Yun Que'er nodded. "Grandma Wang, you've planted a lot of vegetables in your yard, right? If you can't finish them all, you can take them to the market to sell. It's a good way to supplement your income."
Grandma Wang frowned and sized up Yun Que'er for a moment. She didn't answer but just waved her palm - leaf fan and shifted her gaze elsewhere.
But in her heart, she was muttering. Was this girl from the Yun family out of her mind?
It was a spontaneous act for every household in the village to grow vegetables. But if they really sold them, wouldn't that break the rules?
They'd surely be labeled as wrongdoers. And who would be so foolish as to ask for trouble?
Yun Que'er must be crazy about making money.
Grandma Wang's silence seemed to fuel Yun Que'er's enthusiasm. As she busily worked, she chattered on.
"Grandma Wang, I think this is a feasible idea. There might not be anyone selling vegetables in the market yet, but there has to be a first for everything. Once we start, others will quickly follow. And we'll have the first - mover advantage, which means we can earn a lot more than those who start selling after hearing the news."
Grandma Wang gasped in shock at Yun Que'er's words and couldn't help saying, "Girl, you can't just say such things casually. It wouldn't be good if the village head hears you."
"What's there to be afraid of?" Yun Que'er smiled nonchalantly. "Grandma Wang, haven't you heard the news? I've heard that the land we're currently farming will soon be allocated to individuals. Then we can sell whatever we want from our own land. What we're doing now is just for practice."
Grandma Wang really thought Yun Que'er was talking nonsense. The land belonged to the public, and whatever work they did was for the public. How could the land be distributed to individuals?
It was like a wild dream!
Yun Que'er's unrestrained talk was just asking for trouble!
Grandma Wang didn't dare to continue chatting with Yun Que'er, afraid of getting involved. She just grunted in response and then got up, saying she had something to attend to at home.
Yun Que'er turned to look at Ji Chengxuan, and they both exchanged a meaningful smile.
Then, as they continued to work, they repeated what they had just said.
That night, the news that Yun Que'er had claimed the land would be allocated to individuals spread throughout the village, and the village head soon caught wind of it.
"Outrageous! I don't even know about this. Where did she get this rumor from!" The village head angrily slammed his teacup on the table. "She talks as if it's true. I think she's really gone crazy!"
Liu Kui, sitting beside him, calmly sipped his tea and said suggestively, "That little girl is very smart. She's not crazy. I think she's just gotten too used to a good life and has become arrogant. With her loose tongue, aren't you going to do something about it, Village Head?"
The village head turned his head in confusion. When he saw the flickering look in Liu Kui's eyes, he suddenly understood what he meant.
Right! Didn't Liu Kui always advise him to find fault with the Yun family and take the opportunity to punish them? The village head thought to himself and suddenly smiled.
Wasn't this the perfect opportunity?
"Since this girl from the Yun family is becoming more and more out of line, it's my duty as the village head to teach her a lesson."
"Teaching her is her family's business. What does it have to do with you, Village Head?" Liu Kui said. "If her family had really taught her well, she wouldn't speak so carelessly. Besides, maybe it was her family who told her this. Otherwise, how could a child like her dare to say such things? What do you think, Village Head?"
The village head snorted. "It seems there's no need for a verbal warning. Send her directly to the police station."
Yun Que'er seemed to be in an especially good mood when she got home. She even volunteered to help Yun Fujin with the dishes. Hearing her humming a tune non - stop, Yun Fujin couldn't help but turn to look at her.
"What did you and Ji Chengxuan do? Why are you so happy?"
"Of course, we did something good." Yun Que'er said contentedly. "Brother, do you believe that good days are coming for our family?"
Yun Que'er's sudden words left Yun Fujin stunned. "Our family has always lived a pretty good life, hasn't it?"
Yun Que'er showed a mysterious expression. "I mean even better than now."
Yun Fujin scratched his head. He still didn't quite understand what Yun Que'er meant. Why had this girl been acting so mysterious lately?
Seeing Yun Que'er's small hands holding the big bowl, Yun Fujin was worried that she might accidentally break the bowl and hurt herself. He quickly stepped forward to stop her.
"Forget it. Let me do it. Go and play."
Yun Que'er didn't insist. She just moved her small stool to the side.
"Brother, though, there might be some trouble before our family can enjoy those good days."
Hearing Yun Que'er's words, Yun Fujin's heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to turn to ask her for clarification, the courtyard gate was suddenly kicked open with a bang.
The village head stormed in angrily. "Oh, you still have the mood to do the dishes? Don't you know what crime you've committed?"