Chapter 53

"Xinmei, it's time to eat."

Mother's call startled Liu Xinmei out of her thoughts. She looked at the time and realized it was already noon, time for lunch.

She put down the newspaper and got up to go to the main house.

The ceiling fan whirred, sending a cool breeze. The family was already seated around the table, eating stir-fried rice.

The Liu family had always had the best living conditions in Xili Village.

Liu Xinmei washed her hands and silently sat down to eat.

Wang Guizhi looked at her a couple of times and asked curiously, "Xinmei, why are your cheeks so red? Are you running a fever?" As she said this, she reached out to touch her forehead.

Liu Xinmei dodged.

"Mom, it's because of the hot weather," she said with a pout.

As the family ate, the conversation naturally turned to the recent changes in the Xiao family.

"It looks like the Xiao Youjin family is really preparing to build a new house. I saw them buying bricks today," Liu Zhenhai said.

"I never thought the Xiao Youjin family would have their day," Wang Guizhi said with a hint of resentment. She couldn't stand to see others doing well.

Especially the Xiao family, whom she despised the most, actually planning to build a new house made her very uncomfortable.

"Ah! Old Xiao has a good son!" Liu Zhenhai sighed.

Wang Guizhi pursed her lips, "You mean Xiao Fei?"

"Yes, the idea of using wheat bran as bait to catch turtles was Xiao Fei's. The decision to replant the cotton fields with corn and to contract the village hill were also Xiao Fei's. He can even write articles and earn royalties. I heard he earns over a thousand yuan a month from writing. The Xiao family is really on the rise," Liu Zhenhai said enviously, glancing at his two sons who were eating voraciously. Originally, he didn't think his sons were any worse, but now he felt they were crippled.

Wang Guizhi sneered, "Except for the first idea, which did earn the Xiao family some money, I think the other two were just wasteful. The corn won't mature in time, and the fields will still be unproductive, wasting fertilizer. Contracting the hill is useless and won't bring any benefits. As for him earning a thousand yuan a month from writing, I think that's just bragging. I haven't seen him earn a single cent in royalties. If he did, Xiao Yang would have been bragging about it in the streets."

Wang Guizhi was doing her best to belittle Xiao Fei.

Liu Xinmei found her mother's words strange.

She couldn't help but speak up, "Mom, newspapers have a cycle for paying royalties. It takes some time after an article is published for the royalties to be sent. Xiao Fei has indeed published many articles. I've seen several of his articles in the provincial newspaper recently, and today I saw one in the People's Daily."

"There are many people with the same name. How do you know it's definitely him?" Wang Guizhi countered.

"There's his introduction, and it matches," Liu Xinmei said.

Liu Zhenhai was surprised, "What? He published an article in the People's Daily?"

Liu Zhenhai had been the village chief for many years and had a strong political sense.

He knew what the People's Daily was—the top newspaper in China, the voice of the Party, where many national policies were announced.

Publishing an article there was a big deal.

"Father, you haven't read the newspaper? I'll bring it to you!" Liu Xinmei took the newspaper from her room and showed it to Liu Zhenhai.

Liu Zhenhai had only a junior high school education, but he could read the newspaper.

He looked at it carefully and exclaimed, "Isn't this about our village? My goodness! I never thought little Xili Village would make it to the People's Daily! This is my greatest achievement over the years!"

Wang Guizhi, seeing her husband's surprise, was unimpressed, "It's just a small article. What's so great about it?"

Liu Zhenhai looked at his wife and shook his head, "You wouldn't understand! It's a waste of breath. Do you know that because of this article, the county magistrate might consider Xiao Fei a talent? Even if he doesn't get into university, he might be assigned to a county office!"

"Ah? The county magistrate is so busy, would he pay attention to such a small matter?" Wang Guizhi was surprised.

To her, the county magistrate was a big official.

"Hmph! The county magistrate and the county party secretary read the People's Daily every day. It contains important directives from higher-ups!" Liu Zhenhai didn't want to waste words on his shortsighted wife.

"So, Xiao Fei might be favored by the county magistrate?" Wang Guizhi's disdain disappeared, and she was shocked.

"Very likely! So, this boy from the Xiao family has a bright future ahead!" Liu Zhenhai said, "We should start building a good relationship with the Xiao family."

"Even if he doesn't get into university, what future can he have? He's not as accomplished as our Xinmei," Wang Guizhi argued.

Liu Zhenhai agreed, nodding, "That's true, but Xiao Fei didn't do badly this year. He got into a vocational college. If he doesn't go this year, he might get into a better school next year."

Liu Xinmei finished her meal.

She was tired of her parents' chatter, put down her bowl, and went back to her room.

She lay on her bed to take a nap but couldn't fall asleep.

She thought, why not go find Xiao Fei in the afternoon, tell him that she likes him, and has always liked him, and establish a romantic relationship. If anything changes in the future, they can deal with it then.

She thought her idea was wise.

With that, she closed her eyes and fell asleep peacefully with the fan blowing.

At that moment, in the main house, Liu Zhenhai was still talking to his wife.

"Zhenhai, my sister's daughter is 20 years old and is looking for a husband. Do you think if I go and propose a match for Xiao Fei, they would agree?" Wang Guizhi said.

Liu Zhenhai rolled his eyes, clearly not expecting his wife to have such an idea, "Your sister's daughter is so fat and not good-looking. Do you think Xiao Fei would be interested?"

"Why wouldn't he be interested? It's not easy for men in the village to find a wife, and Xiao Fei's family isn't in a great position. It's a good thing if someone is willing to marry him," Wang Guizhi said confidently.

"First, Xiao Fei has a bright future. He might get a job in the city. Why would he marry a fat and ugly girl from the countryside? Second, a pretty girl came to see Xiao Fei a few days ago. This shows he has a girlfriend and wouldn't be interested in your sister's daughter," Liu Zhenhai said.

"Hmph! What future in the city? It's not certain yet! With their current poor situation, ten girls would find five reasons to refuse. As for the girl who came to Xiao Fei's house, Xinmei told me she's not his girlfriend, just a sworn sister," Wang Guizhi said.

"Then go ahead and try. See if you get a nose full of ashes!" Liu Zhenhai didn't want to argue with his wife anymore.