Ch 83: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Shen Qing thought for a moment. “Then we’ll pick two more people from the village to work alongside the children in the shop. This way, they can keep an eye on each other and prevent any disobedience.”

In terms of proximity, the most suitable choices were Lian Shi from Second Aunt Lian’s family or Zhao Shitou from Madam Guixiang’s household. But Shen Qing figured it would be better to let the villagers compete for the positions based on their own abilities.

First, Lian Shi and Zhao Shitou were both honest and straightforward, but that didn’t necessarily mean they’d be good at running a business. Second, by making this county job a coveted opportunity, it would naturally earn more respect for his family within the village.

With a “nobleman” backing him, there was no risk of losing control. Many villagers who acted tough in their own territory would immediately shrink in front of city folk, eager to please them. Shen Qing only needed to play the role of the nobleman’s trusted aide, using that status as a shield when necessary.

While Shen Qing was planning all this, Madam Guixiang was also discussing the matter at home. She was known for keeping secrets, not even telling her own son and daughter-in-law. It wasn’t until she was lying in bed with her husband that she finally shared the news.

“…They say Qing Ge’er has convinced the nobleman to open a workshop in our village. The nobleman will purchase everything we produce, so we won’t have to worry about sales at all. You need to find a large enough plot of land before the new year ends so construction can begin as soon as possible. The workshop should be near the main road to make transportation easier. The nobleman will cover the cost of the land and will also hire villagers to build the workshop, which means another round of income for the village.”

Her husband was startled by the news. “Are you sure about this? This isn’t just idle talk?”

“I’m sure. It’s nearly set in stone,” Madam Guixiang said confidently. “Just think about it—if this works out, not only will the village benefit, but our family will be in Qing Ge’er’s good graces. He’s got the nobleman’s ear, and his position in the village is only getting stronger.”

She had always been sharp. Opportunities like this didn’t come often, and if they didn’t act fast, someone else might claim the benefits first.

“What? He really said that?” Zhao Youdang was just as excited. As the village chief, who wouldn’t want their village to prosper? Because Lantang Village was slightly poorer than others, even when he traveled outside, he always felt a step behind the chief of Shiqu Village. If this workshop became a reality, the village would become wealthier, and he’d be able to stand taller among the township leaders. “Since Qing Ge’er already got confirmation from the nobleman, why did he still act uncertain in front of the others, making everyone wait anxiously?”

“Miao Shi told me herself—how could it be false?” Madam Guixiang snorted. By now, she had figured it out. “Why? I think Qing Ge’er wants to let the villagers stew for a bit. When good things come too easily, people don’t appreciate them and don’t know how to be grateful! Do you know how many people in the village have been talking behind his back ever since he made money selling wild boars? Even today, someone was sneering that now that the nobleman bought East Mountain, let’s see where Qing Ge’er will chop firewood next. Why should he be kind to people like that?”

“Oh, it’s not that serious. We’re all from the same village. That person just has a sharp tongue, but no bad intentions,” Zhao Youdang chuckled awkwardly.

He had always been someone who avoided confrontation, preferring to smooth things over rather than escalate conflicts. That was precisely why the old village chief had chosen Madam Guixiang as his wife—to balance him out. Otherwise, with his temperament, he wouldn’t be able to control the village at all!

Madam Guixiang, however, was not one to tolerate nonsense. She abruptly sat up, letting the warmth of the blankets escape. Zhao Youdang hurriedly pushed her back down. “Alright, alright, I shouldn’t have said that. Don’t get upset!”

“Good that you understand!” She glared at her husband. “Qing Ge’er is a kind and loyal child, and his mother is an honest woman. We treat them well, and that’s why they trust me enough to confide in me. Qing Ge’er even said that once the workshop is built, our family will be helping to manage it. That boy respects you as the village chief, which is far better than those gossiping fools! Let me make this clear—when the workshop is built, don’t bring your usual soft-hearted nonsense into it! This workshop isn’t the village’s property; it’s only happening because the nobleman values Qing Ge’er. Everything has to be done properly and by the book!”

“Fine, fine, I agree,” Zhao Youdang relented. Lying on the warm heated brick bed, he could feel the heat almost burning his back. As he mulled over his wife’s words, he thought—yes, opening the workshop was definitely a good thing for the village, but why did he feel like everything was about to change?

And then another thought struck him—”East Mountain was bought by some nobleman, and now Qing Ge’er has also met a nobleman from outside. Where did all these noblemen suddenly come from?”

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The next day was New Year’s Eve. Shen Qing woke up early to put up the Spring Festival couplets.

He had bought the couplets from Shiqu Village, where two scholars wrote them every year and sold them at a cheap price. Local villagers paid the standard price, while outsiders had to pay a bit more, but it was still affordable. Even the poorest families would scrape together a few coins to buy couplets, to bring in some festivity and drive away the New Year’s beast. The two scholars would end up making a little extra money for themselves.

Shen Qing had bought two sets—one for the courtyard gate and another for the hall entrance. He also got several Fu (福) characters for decoration.

Miao Shi had boiled a small pot of paste to stick them on, and as Shen Qing worked, he occasionally scraped some of the paste off with his finger and ate it. This was an old habit—since the paste was made from wheat flour, back in his days at the Shen family’s household, it had been considered a rare treat. How could he not sneak a taste whenever he had the chance?

But now, eating it, he realized—it was cold, sticky, and tasteless.

Unknowingly, they had already been away from the Shen family’s home for almost half a year. The hardships they had endured there felt like something from a past life—so distant now that even remembering them felt surreal.

Shen Qing put his hands on his hips and examined the couplets he had just put up. “When opportunity comes… hmm… prosperity follows. In all four seasons… hmm… wishes come true! Not bad! I recognize so many characters now!” He was quite pleased with himself.

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Though the village had been lively in the days leading up to the new year, things became much quieter on New Year’s Eve itself. Everyone was busy with their own family affairs, and Shen Qing and his mother couldn’t very well go visiting other people’s homes today.

Take the Miao family, for example—on other holidays, Miao Shi and Shen Qing could join in the festivities. But New Year’s was different. Who spent the holiday at someone else’s house? Besides, there was an old custom in the village that married daughters couldn’t spend New Year’s Eve in their parents’ home. No one knew exactly why, but since it had always been done that way, Miao Shi didn’t want to break tradition and put her brothers in a difficult position.

She kept their New Year’s Eve dinner simple—just a chicken, a fish, and a cold dish of lotus root and black fungus. It was more than enough for the two of them. After so much fried and meaty food throughout the festival, they were starting to crave something lighter.

“Who would’ve thought, now that we have plenty of meat, we’re getting tired of it,” Miao Shi remarked. She couldn’t help but feel that their home was a bit too quiet. She envied those families who had a whole crowd gathered around, filled with the laughter of children. She stole a glance at Shen Qing.

Lian Qiao, Second Aunt Lian’s daughter, was already a year old. Madam Guixiang’s eldest daughter-in-law was now expecting. When would Qing Ge’er finally settle down and give her a grandchild?

Shen Qing, unaware of his mother’s thoughts, was busy fiddling with a string of firecrackers.

In their village, it was tradition to set off firecrackers at midnight to welcome the new year. But firecrackers were only meant to be handled by boys—gers and girls weren’t allowed to touch them.

When he was younger, Shen Qing had thought it was because gers and girls were too timid to enjoy the loud noise. Later, he realized it was just another inexplicable tradition—like how married daughters weren’t supposed to stay at their maiden home on New Year’s Day.

Families without sons were often mocked—”Can’t even find someone to set off firecrackers for them on New Year’s,” or “No one to carry their funeral banners when they die.”

Even if a family had only just had a baby boy, they would insist on bringing him outside to “set off” firecrackers, even if the loud noise made the child wail. The boy had to at least touch the firecracker stick!

Shen Qing had even brought back a wristwatch from the other world so he could tell the exact time. When midnight struck, he was the first in the village to light his firecrackers.

The very first firecrackers of their new, independent household.

The very first firecrackers he, as a ger , was allowed to set off.

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While New Year’s Eve had been quiet, New Year’s Day was bustling with excitement again.

Children ran from house to house offering New Year’s greetings, chanting auspicious phrases. Miao Shi loved kids, and seeing a group of little ones giggling and playing made her beam with joy. She handed out peanuts, melon seeds, and the sweets Shen Qing had bought, stuffing the children’s pockets full.

She even slipped a handful of copper coins into Lianrong and Lianqiao’s pockets—this was real lucky money, reserved for family members. For the other children, candy and snacks were more than generous enough.

With treats luring them in, even more kids gathered at their doorstep. By afternoon, when most families had finished their New Year’s business, their parents also started coming by, using the holiday as an excuse to dig for information about the workshop.

Before they left for Shiqu Village the next day, however, Liu Yue’e pulled Shen Qing aside and whispered, “Don’t visit Scholar Miao’s house—his daughter-in-law passed away early on New Year’s Eve.”

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