Chapter 719

The boat canopy had no walls or doors at both ends, and the river breeze blew through them. Song Peifeng wrapped her scarf around her, covering her entire head, tying it snugly but not tight. “The boat’s about to depart soon. The river breeze is strong.”

Jiang Ning smiled with her eyes bent, leaning her head on his shoulder naturally. Song Peifeng instinctively adjusted his shoulder height to make her more comfortable.

But soon, Jiang Ning raised her head to look at the river outside the canopy.

In past winters at this time, snow would have already fallen, covering the river in a thin layer of ice under the snow. But now, the water sparkled and shone. In the distance, large cargo ships came and went across the river.

They were transporting sand to Jiang Guotai’s sand factory.

These cargo ships transporting sand had not stopped even though it was the end of the year; instead, they were busier than ever, shipping load after load of river sand to various construction sites.

This year, the sand factory’s profits nearly doubled compared to last year. This was thanks to Jiang Guotai’s trip to Guangzhou last year. He not only formed a tea merchants’ association with merchants from all over the country to share resources but also met many bosses who needed river sand. Now, his factory ships directly to these big bosses who handle construction, cutting out many middlemen who used to take profit. Jiang Guotai earned more, and the bosses got cheaper sand — both sides happy, except for the middlemen who were unhappy.

Jiang Guotai didn’t care about their dissatisfaction. The sand factory was his base, and he had the support of many locally, so no one dared mess with him.

Besides, since he led the formation of this tea merchants’ association, he became one of the presidents. Other positions like vice president, chairman, vice chairman, and committee members were all local big shots with considerable wealth and influence.

With this association, Jiang Guotai basically controlled a core resource for exchanging goods.

He was also quite shameless; not only did he ally with these business leaders, but he also connected with Li Ang. Although Li Ang managed the cultural and creative industries, after the tea expo, Guangzhou government planned to build a cultural museum. Anything related to ‘culture’ fell under Li Ang’s department. 

Jiang Guotai had the sand source. Guangzhou didn’t produce river sand; all sand is shipped from inland, and these two cities required lots of sand all year round. As long as Jiang Guotai found reliable transport teams, Li Ang had no problem awarding him the sand contracts, especially since Jiang Guotai took no cut for himself. That meant Li Ang’s projects got quality sand at good prices.

Of course, working with the government meant prices were cheaper than the market, and quality and quantity had to be guaranteed. Jiang Guotai could never cheat Li Ang since Li Ang was his “golden thigh” in Guangzhou.

Jiang Guotai wasn’t good at much else, but he excelled at hugging big thighs.

Too bad his biggest thigh in his past life fell, and he fell with it.

When Jiang Ning and the others arrived at Jiang Village dock, they got off carrying large bundles of gifts.”

They also asked, “What are all these things?”

Jiang Ning smiled and explained they were holiday gifts.”

Suddenly, someone realized, “Wait, Ning Ning is our Jiang Village’s Ning Ning.” Then hurriedly asked, “When’s the date? Have you set the wedding date?”

The ‘three sisters’ referred to Jiang Ning, Jiang Miao, and Jiang Yanyan. Now that Jiang Guoding became deputy county head and Jiang Yanyan’s status rose in the village, people spoke of them as the three sisters. They were all from the third family branch, and their houses were next to each other.

Jiang Ning laughed and said, “Not yet.”

Hearing this, the villagers and people from Linhe Brigade all laughed and agreed, “Right, right, no rush.”

“Even if you marry, it’s fine.” Many didn’t know Song Peifeng was Secretary Song’s son, thinking he was just Jiang Ning’s classmate. They smiled at him and said, “Come live in our village! If you’re willing to be a son-in-law and transfer your household registration here, we’ll give you a tea plot. That one mu of tea land is worth at least five or six thousand yuan a year now.”

Now everyone in Jiang Village smiles when talking about tea land.

Last year, many people built houses for the New Year; this year, even more were built. Even those with apartment buildings wanted to build big ones like Jiang Ning’s or her dad’s, to use as guesthouses.

In the surrounding ten or so miles, and even outside Shuibu Town, the bricklayers and masons were crazy busy this year, with so many building houses that appointments were fully booked months in advance.

This year, there was no snow, the dikes were cemented with new roads, and the weather was dry that day, making the roads especially easy to walk—no more muddy and wet hardships.

Jiang Ning and her boyfriend walked down to Jiang Village. The village was lively, with not only locals but many migrant workers called back by their parents to share tea land. Many tourists, not going home for the New Year, said it was fine to come back on the 27th or 28th since boats were available.

They all wanted to see Jiang Ning and the deputy county head up close.

They now lived in Jiang Ning’s home and in the deputy county head’s daughter’s house.

Jiang Ning had just reached the hydroelectric station, not yet to the village when the people helping her with the gifts loudly shouted, “Big guy! Big guy! Ah Lian!”

Jiang Ning hurried to stop them, “Auntie, don’t shout. It’s not the first time I’m back. I come every year; no need to shout. Thank you though.”

“Oh, it’s not heavy. You don’t have to carry it. Your hands are for writing, not for carrying.” The warm-hearted auntie looked at Father Jiang’s house, then Jiang Ning’s house on the barren mountain, hesitated, and asked, “Hey? Which house are you going to?”

Normally, unmarried girls lived with their parents, but Jiang Ning also had a house on the barren mountain.”

Don’t be fooled by how warm-hearted the folks in Jiang Village seemed to be towards Jiang Ning. Back then, which of those aunts didn’t side with Mother Jiang, joining her in scolding Jiang Ning for being unfilial? To those aunts, Mother Jiang and they were a natural alliance of interests. Otherwise, if their daughters acted like Jiang Ning—just studying without working or handing money back home—wouldn’t that be a problem?

So, when Jiang Ning, still unmarried, said she was going back to her own home, the aunts just smiled and said, “Oh my, isn’t it something—so young and already owning her own house!” Their gaze then shifted to Song Peifeng standing beside Jiang Ning, looking like a perfect couple. “Once you get married, you can move in with your partner into your own house.”

Aunts: ……

One aunt went on to advise Jiang Ning, “Sigh, your mom had a tough youth too…”

Jiang Ning ignored the aunts and waved to Jiang Daboniang, who was hastily coming over with short little legs. “Aunt-in-law!”

Uncle Jiang’s wife was already fifty and had clearly been through a hard couple of years. Her once plump figure had slimmed down, but her face remained round—round faces were considered very fortunate in their local saying.

Aunt Jiang (Uncle Jiang’s wife) slowed to a walk, but Jiang Ning had already met her halfway.

Song Peifeng also followed briskly, carrying things.

Actually, once they passed the hydro station, they were already in the village. The closest two houses were the brigade office and Father Jiang’s house; then there was Third Cousin Jiang Jun’s house, and the one on the barren hill where Uncle Jiang, his wife, and Grandpa Jiang lived—that was Jiang Ning’s home. So Father Jiang and Mother Jiang were the first to arrive.

When Jiang Ning greeted and told her aunt-in-law to slow down, her face wore a genuine smile with a sparkle in her eyes.

Father Jiang seemed completely oblivious to Jiang Ning’s unusual mood and ran forward, taking the New Year gifts from Jiang Ning’s hand. “I knew you’d come back early this year. Your mom and I closed up early just to get back.” He smiled at Song Peifeng, “Come, come, I’ll carry these. It’s been a long trip and it’s cold outside.”

Passing through a rice field brought them to Father Jiang’s house.