80s Transmigration: The Young Widow's Hustle to Riches

Chapter 324 - 321: I Sneak-Attacked from Behind

Lin Changyou recalled the hard times of the past and sighed. "We had no choice. Back then, every family was struggling. We were lucky just to have enough to eat. Your mother was always finding creative ways to feed you kids."

"Other families would just boil their beans, but your mother would roast them until they were fragrant, grind them into a powder, and cook it into a porridge for you. That’s how she kept you all fed. It was only during the New Year that people would allow themselves to cook things they normally couldn’t bear to eat."

Many families in the brigade had children who died young, but all of his had survived and grown up.

After hearing this, Li Xiangyang was also reminded of the days when his family was sent away for "re-education." He had seen people starve to death with his own eyes.

Seeing the somber mood, Lin Guozhu smiled. "It’s the New Year. Let’s talk about happier things and not dwell on the bitter past." As he spoke, he dug some roasted peanuts out of the embers and placed them in front of Li Xiangyang. "Have some peanuts. Roasting them in charcoal gives them a unique flavor."

Li Xiangyang picked one up, shelled it, and popped it in his mouth. He nodded. "Delicious!"

Lin Changyou glanced at Lin Lan’s face, flushed from the sweet wine, then over to Li Xiangyang. He smiled and said, "I had your eldest brother bring back some camphor wood. I’m planning to hire someone to build a few pieces of furniture for you. What style would you two like?"

"Dad, the house over there is already furnished. We don’t need any more."

’Lin Lan had heard that camphor wood had its own natural, fresh scent. When furniture made from it was placed indoors, it filled the air with a pleasant, refreshing aroma that was soothing to breathe and calming for the mind.’

’Besides, camphor wood had a unique practical function: it repelled insects and moths, prevented mold, and kept out moisture. Furs, silks, and other fine clothes stored in camphor wood furniture wouldn’t get infested or mildewed; instead, they would absorb its pleasant, fragrant scent.’

Lin Changyou said, "Don’t you worry about the cost. I asked a friend in the mountains to find this wood, so it wasn’t expensive. Ah, life is hard for the people in the mountains. They have good things but can’t get much money for them."

Li Xiangyang added, "Dad, you should keep the camphor wood to make furniture for Third Brother and Guoqiang."

Lin Guoliang spoke up. "Xiangyang, don’t refuse. Dad has his heart set on making a few pieces of furniture for Little Lan. Just tell us what style you’d like."

Li Xiangyang felt he couldn’t refuse any further, so he looked at Lin Lan. "What style do you like?"

Lin Lan shook her head. "I’ve never really thought about it, so I can’t think of anything right now." ’She decided to accept the furniture, thinking she could return the favor when Lin Guozhu and Lin Guoqiang got married in the future.’

Lin Guozhu thought for a moment, then looked at Lin Changyou. "Dad, how about this? We can send the wood to the East Market and find a carpenter there to build the furniture. That’ll save us the trouble of moving it later."

’Lin Lan agreed. Furniture from this era wasn’t like the flat-pack furniture that would be common in twenty or thirty years. It was all made of solid wood and couldn’t be disassembled, making it very difficult to move.’

Lin Changyou agreed that was a good idea and turned to Li Xiangyang. "Xiangyang, when you get back, talk to the craftsman who made your furniture last time. He’s sure to have some nice designs."

Li Xiangyang said sincerely, "Thank you, Dad. I’ll talk to him as soon as I get back."

Lin Lan reminded Lin Changyou, "Dad, if you can, you should buy some extra good wood and store it. It’ll be useful in the future."

’She knew that rare wood would only get harder to find in the future. Plus, regulations on farmers would become much stricter. Eventually, you wouldn’t even be able to cut down a tree you planted yourself. It was best to buy more and store it now, while things were still relaxed.’

Lin Changyou nodded. "Alright. I’ll have someone get more from the mountains."

Wu Shufen returned with a basket of oranges she had bought from a family in the brigade that grew them. She said to Lin Changyou, "The brigade leader said he’s coming to see you this afternoon."

Only then did Lin Changyou remember that the brigade leader wanted to send his youngest daughter to learn a trade from Lin Lan. He turned to Lin Lan and explained the situation.

"I was originally planning to wait for Guoqiang’s reply before telling you, but who knows what’s up with that boy, he still hasn’t written back. If it’s not too much trouble, you could let Jiaojiao learn from you."

Lin Lan explained what Li Xiangyang had heard from Dongzi and what their new plan was. "If there weren’t limits on the number of employees, it would be fine. But as it is, if she wants to come after the New Year, she’ll have to go to Lexing and learn from Sister Yuezhen."

The number of employees at the pastry shop had already exceeded the legal limit. After hearing Dongzi’s warning to Li Xiangyang, the two of them had decided to buy a tricycle. The plan for the next year was to make the pastries in Lexing and then use the tricycle to transport them to the shop.

Lin Guozhu nodded. "That’s right. This issue could be a big deal or nothing at all. If you run into a difficult official, they could shut your shop down."

Lin Changyou said, "Yuezhen was taught by you, so learning from her is the same thing."

Wu Shufen cautioned, "You’d better explain the situation clearly to the brigade leader, dear. We don’t want them to misunderstand and think our Lin Lan is putting on airs."

"I know what I’m doing," Lin Changyou said, glancing out into the yard. "The little ones have been out for a while. Guozhu, go check on them. Make sure they don’t get hurt by firecrackers."

Lin Lan looked at Li Xiangyang. "Let’s go check, too."

Li Xiangyang nodded. The three of them went into the yard, got their bicycles, and started riding toward the general store.

Halfway there, they saw a group of kids including Lin Jun, Lin Qing, and Lin Gang shouting at another group. They were also throwing firecracker snaps at each other.

"Stop it! What if someone gets hurt?" Lin Lan’s heart pounded in fear as she shouted at them to stop.

Lin Guozhu pedaled faster, his voice booming, "Lin Jun, what do you think you’re doing? Are you trying to get yourselves killed?"

A chubby, round-faced boy shouted, "The soldier’s here! His family is here!" The kids immediately scattered in all directions.

"Mama! Uncle Xiangyang! You’re here!" Little Douzi cried out happily when he saw them, running over.

Lin Lan hopped off her bike and ran to him. His face was smudged and dirty, but thankfully, he wasn’t hurt.

She took out a handkerchief and wiped the soot from his face. "Firecrackers are dangerous! You can’t throw them at people!"

Little Douzi held up the small packet in his hand. "He tried to snatch my stuff first! Sister Lin Hong held me back, so I snuck up and attacked them from behind."

Over on the side, Lin Jun was rattling on, complaining to Lin Guozhu, "Third Uncle, it was Second Grandma’s ’Third Slob’ who started insulting us first! They threw snaps at us, and when we fought back, they started throwing dirt clods and more snaps at us!"

Lin Qing and Lin Gang pointed to the mud on their new clothes, sniffling distressedly. "Third Uncle, look! They threw mud at us and got our new clothes all dirty!"

Lin Hong, holding a red scarf, also complained tearfully, "And Lin Xiaoqiang pulled the scarf Auntie gave me! He snagged it!"

After checking that none of the children were hurt, Lin Lan took the scarf. She saw a hole where the threads of the hem had been pulled. She gently stroked Lin Hong’s braid and said comfortingly, "After the New Year, your Uncle is going to restock his goods. He’ll buy you a new one."

Li Xiangyang smiled. "Don’t worry, Lin Hong. Your uncle has made a note of it."

Lin Guozhu patted Lin Jun and Lin Gang on the shoulder. "Alright now. You can’t throw firecrackers at people. What if you’d injured Third Slob’s eyes? Second Grandma would have surely demanded you pay for it."

Lin Qing pouted. "But Third Slob started it! Why should we have to pay?"

Lin Jun nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Snaps can’t really hurt anyone."