Chapter 18: Pingdong and Yu Ma

That night.

The villagers spontaneously organized to go into town to clear the snow, becoming a heartwarming story.

It was also a reflection of the local achievements.

No one cared that many villagers were stranded in the city.

Nor did anyone pay attention to the minor clashes between villagers and the agricultural wholesale market.

At 10 p.m.

Pingtung Hotel.

Amidst clinking glasses...

"The truck delivering pea shoots to the capital overturned near the 385-kilometer mark. The vehicle was dismantled, the vegetables stolen, and the driver didn’t dare return. So he stayed overnight in Yu Family Village, where a young man named Yu Yang, imitating greenhouse cultivation techniques, started growing pea shoots, hoping to make some money to go home for the New Year."

Superior: "So they actually grew them?"

"Not only did they grow them, but they also built six greenhouses, each 1,500 square meters."

"Goodness, that's 9,000 square meters, nearly 14 acres, right?"

"Yes, vegetable dealers from surrounding villages come to Yu Family Village to wholesale. The convoy stretches for several kilometers; some waited three days and nights without getting any goods. Even the owner of a trailer truck from Quanpu partnered with the dealers, investing several Steyr semi-trailers."

"This has the potential to become a new local industry," the superior said, sighing, "That young man is indeed lucky."

The officer: "Lucky? His father is in custody because someone reported the brick kiln."

"Brick kiln? I remember the brick kiln in Shilinying..."

"Yes, good memory. Yu Yang is the son of the brick kiln manager. He hopes to earn money to repay his father's debt. He probably works from dawn till dusk..."

Hearing this, the superior glanced at the plate of pea shoots, then looked around at the officers and road administration officials, understanding the situation.

He signaled to the secretary, "The brick kiln matter is complicated. If I remember correctly, the trial is the day after tomorrow. Let's postpone it until the investigation is complete before sentencing. Also, tell the bank to give some leeway; people need time to repay loans."

"Understood, sir."

"Furthermore, building plastic greenhouses is no easy task, especially with heavy snowfall causing some losses. As a new local industry, we must support them, ease restrictions, and not be so strict. Otherwise, how can they develop? After all, pea shoots only earn money during the winter."

"Got it."

After the secretary left, the gathering grew livelier.

Suddenly, the county police rushed in, whispering a brief report.

The superior tapped his chopsticks, "The villagers rarely come to the county town and have worked hard all day. They went to the food court for a good meal. What wrong have they done? Instead, these local bullies, for petty gains, cheat and bully others. It's time to crack down."

"Sir, the injuries are quite severe."

"How severe? Worse than those from the villages near Pingtung Lake who fought over the paddy fields?"

"No, nothing that serious. No real weapons, no firearms, just a lot of shovel handles."

"Just a few wooden sticks, you call that serious?"

...

The next day.

Pingtung County was calm and peaceful.

But the big shots in Pingtung’s Four Passes knew that Qing, who had backing in the agricultural wholesale market, was hung from a street lamp and left to freeze most of the night.

Moreover, Qing’s more than twenty underlings were forced by villagers to farm...

---

"I heard he offended someone selling pea shoots and seized five tractors."

"That’s not true. It started when he cursed some villagers while clearing snow. The villagers were unhappy and retaliated at night."

"You don’t know the whole story. The villagers were eating at the food court when Qing colluded with the shop owners to overcharge them. When the villagers realized they were being cheated, they grabbed shovels and attacked."

"Those villagers are huge, their arms thicker than my thighs."

"That's because you’re malnourished."

"You're even thinner than me; you’re more malnourished!"

Yu Yang and his mother ate breakfast while listening to the gossip.

Yu’s mother was a genuine rural woman who had dropped out of school in second grade to help take care of several aunts and uncles, so she was illiterate.

"San Yuan, you should go back to school."

"Degrees are for show; knowledge is for oneself. I’ve learned what I need. Now I’m starting a business—I don’t need a degree."

"But how do you manage to grow pea shoots?"

"I don’t grow the shoots myself. I remodeled our kang bed and partnered with someone to cultivate pea shoots. Later, I set up plastic greenhouses in the yard. It’s been quite profitable."

"No worries. The partner is a vegetable dealer who has had a tough life but is reliable and hardworking."

Yu Yang hadn’t brought his elder brothers to meet their mother, fearing the young woman—no, the youthful mother—would worry more seeing the burly men’s tough faces. "By the way, Mom, what did the lawyer say?"

"If the authorities insist on prosecution, we won’t win. We can only hope for a reduced sentence."

"Then don’t fight it. I don’t want Dad to suffer inside."

"If we don’t fight, your father will be imprisoned and have a criminal record."

"How long will this take?"

Although Yu Yang told the bank to proceed as they wished, it was just a show; deep down, he didn’t want his father to really go in. "Alright, I’ll set aside 50,000 yuan. We’ll hire a better lawyer and see if they have connections."

"The lawyer we’re using now was classmates with the county secretary and met several times. They just told me the trial is postponed, so there might be a chance."

After saying this, Yu’s mother suddenly realized, "50,000 yuan? Where did you get so much money?"

"I sold the brick kiln to the bank."

"How much did it sell for?"

"Enough to cover the bank loan and repay the private loans."

"You still sold it cheap... Well, it’s done. You’re home running a business, with no one pressing for debt—better that way."

"Don’t worry, we’ll make big money soon. I’ll book a better hotel for you and hire a capable maid."

"Heh, child, what era are we in that you still want a maid?"

"As long as the money’s right, anything is possible."

Yu Yang paid the bill. "Let’s find a well-educated housekeeper."

"For what?"

"You can’t read or write. It’s inconvenient for you to handle city affairs alone. Think of her as a secretary."

"I can’t enjoy such luxury."

"Trust me. It’ll make things smoother, help with signatures, and review documents. Maybe it’ll help get Dad out earlier."

"Then why did you go to school?"

"I have a teacher who’s very responsible."

In 1998, teachers’ salaries and benefits were far inferior to those in another era.

Some schools paid only once every six months, leading many teachers to go into business.

Yu Yang didn’t struggle much to recruit Zhang Qian, his Chinese teacher from middle to high school.

She was seven or eight years younger than his mother, so neither needed to look after the other; they could just keep each other company.

Within a few years, she indeed became a housekeeper and an expert infant caregiver.

"800 yuan a month, with food and lodging included, plus daily expenses covered. Clothing and similar items have a certain reimbursement limit. Also, based on performance, salary increases by at least 20% annually. As long as I don’t go bankrupt and you keep working hard, we can renew the contract indefinitely."

"Yu Yang, have you struck it rich?"

"You might not believe it, but I won 5 million yuan in the lottery."

"Whoa!"

Teacher Zhang was skeptical but far happier with this job than teaching. "Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of your mother. When you have a baby, I’ll help with the child."

"Then forget about it..."

"No way, San Yuan. If you don’t go back to school, we need to get married soon," Yu’s mother nagged after their conversation.

Yu Yang looked through the restaurant’s glass window toward Pingtung County No. 1 High School. After waiting a long time, he asked, "Mom, what do you think of that girl?"

"Quiet, gentle, fair-skinned. She’s nice."

"Hey, Yu Yang, you wouldn’t be interested in your desk mate, would you?" Teacher Zhang said, then realized she would soon resign from the school and follow him to make a living, hastily correcting herself, "She’s nice!"

"Then it’s settled."

Yu Yang stepped outside and called to a passing girl, "Chen Xi, over here!"

"Yu Yang? What are you doing here?!"

"Brother won the lottery—5 million!"

"Really? You used to say if you had money, you’d buy a Tiger Head Benz."

"I’ll drive it over to pick you up for school."

"Keep dreaming... Is the brick kiln matter settled?"

"Not yet. Come, meet my mother," Yu Yang said, opening the restaurant door.

Chen Xi glanced inside, then quickly distanced herself from Yu Yang. "Teacher Zhang?"

But Teacher Zhang, no longer stern, kindly said, "Xi Xi, this is Yu Yang’s mother."

"Uh... hello, auntie!" Chen Xi greeted her with ease.

Yu’s mother looked a bit flustered.

After some thought, as if facing several aunts and uncles, she pulled out two hundred yuan and slipped it into Chen Xi’s hand.

"Dear, don’t let yourself go hungry at school."

"Uh... I’m not hungry, just a bit stunned."