Chapter 95

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For a woman, especially one who is in love, every word her lover says is true. Just like Lin Yuqing now, she didn’t think there was anything wrong with Xu Junran lying on the old bed and telling her that he would make her a millionaire or a high-ranking official within ten years. After all, this man was currently just the deputy secretary of the commune, and he didn’t even have a thousand yuan to his name. Yet, Lin Yuqing felt that it was only right for Xu Junran to say such things, because he was the man she had chosen.

Not to mention, even if Xu Junran said he would become a national leader in the future, Lin Yuqing would probably believe it without hesitation.

The power of love can sometimes make people so easily blind.

"Junran, I don’t want to be an official. If I were to become one, wouldn’t it be bad for you?" Lin Yuqing nestled in Xu Junran’s arms and whispered softly.

Xu Junran smiled, "It’s not as exaggerated as you think. I have my ways, don’t worry."

But Lin Yuqing shook her head stubbornly, "Let’s just forget it. No good officials exist, uh, I’m not saying you, but I see how you all talk in such a roundabout way every day. I can’t stand becoming like that."

Actually, she had more to say, but she didn’t. After all, her reputation wasn’t good, and her relationship with Xu Junran was complicated. Lin Yuqing knew very well that they couldn’t possibly get married, at least the elders in Lijia Town wouldn’t agree. She knew these people were like family to Xu Junran, and if all his family opposed it, he would be caught in a difficult position.

As a considerate woman, Lin Yuqing didn’t want to make things hard for Xu Junran.

If she became a businessman, she could help Xu Junran in some ways and stay with him. The title of lover didn’t matter to her at all. After all she had been through, and influenced by her mother, Lin Yuqing wasn’t that concerned about marriage, and even had a bit of fear towards it. To her, the marriage certificate was just a barrier that bound two people. Over the years, she had seen too many people who were one way in public and another in private. The quality of a relationship didn’t necessarily depend on that marriage certificate.

"Alright then, you go to Pengfei City first. Study at night school and learn how to do business. In a few years, I’ll help you take over a factory and start some good projects," Xu Junran said confidently. For him, making money wasn’t a big issue.

Lin Yuqing nodded, about to speak, but then she exclaimed and couldn’t help but look up and glare at Xu Junran, whispering, "Little rascal, take your hand off!"

Xu Junran looked at Lin Yuqing with an innocent expression, "Sister, it’s a long night, and I can’t sleep. Don’t you think we should do something?"

"Do what? You’ve already had me four times, and you still..." Lin Yuqing’s words were cut off by a gasp.

All she could hear was Xu Junran’s domineering voice, "Four times isn’t my limit. Sister Yuqing, I promise you’ll be satisfied..."

The night was as calm as water, and even the moon seemed to be shy, hiding behind the clouds, occasionally peeking out.

The next morning, Xu Junran was woken up by Lin Yuqing. It had to be said that women were stronger in some aspects than men. Even though the “activity” left Lin Yuqing so weak that she let Xu Junran do as he pleased, she still woke up before him the next morning.

"Junran, you need to go back. What if someone sees you?"

Lin Yuqing lay on Xu Junran’s chest, speaking softly.

Xu Junran played with her smooth hair, saying nonchalantly, "What’s there to be afraid of? We’re just dating normally."

He was being sincere. For Xu Junran, Lin Yuqing was unmarried, and he was unmarried, so there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

But Lin Yuqing wasn’t as open-minded as he was, her face blushing red as she said, "I don’t care, get up quickly, don’t let anyone see you sleeping here."

Seeing that Xu Junran didn’t move, she had to whisper in his ear, her face turning as red as an apple.

In contrast, Xu Junran’s expression brightened as if he had taken some kind of supplement, and he chuckled, "You really agree? Last night, I begged you for a long time, and you didn’t want to."

"Hey, get out quickly, or I won’t let you come tonight," Lin Yuqing said, blushing and pushing Xu Junran.

Xu Junran chuckled, his eyes fixed on Lin Yuqing’s rosy lips, "Alright, alright, I’ll go. I’ll go, okay? Hehe, Sister Yuqing, I’ll be waiting tonight."

Lin Yuqing, seeing him staring at her lips, knew this bad boy was thinking about that again, so she quickly turned around and buried her head in the pillow, refusing to come out. Thinking about how she had agreed to do that embarrassing thing for him to leave, she couldn’t help but feel a wave of heat.

Meanwhile, Xu Junran was already humming a song and getting dressed. He didn’t really like breakfast, so he kissed Lin Yuqing and walked out of her room, heading outside.

It was only a little past five in the morning. People in the countryside got up early to work in the fields. Fortunately, Xu Junran and Lin Yuqing lived in a place not close to the town center, so there weren’t many people around, and few people noticed Xu Junran. He greeted a few familiar villagers and headed towards Li Qiankun’s house.

At this time, Secretary Li should be at home.

"Auntie, is Uncle here?" As soon as he entered the Li family’s yard, Xu Junran asked Li Qiankun’s wife, who was busy feeding the chickens. They were all elders who had watched him grow up, so Xu Junran wasn’t too formal, and he picked up a broom to help her sweep the corn kernels on the ground.

Li Qiankun’s wife was a middle-aged woman in her forties, also from Lijia Town. Seeing Xu Junran, she smiled, "Junran, you’re here. Your uncle hasn’t gotten up yet. He was out with the county leaders last night and only came back in the early hours of the morning."

Xu Junran wasn’t too formal, nodding and chuckling, "I’m hungry, Auntie, do you have anything to eat?"

Li Qiankun’s wife turned and went into the house, taking out a piece of steamed bread and handing it to Xu Junran, "It’s still warm, eat it."

Xu Junran took a bite and then asked, "Where’s Brother Tiezhu?"

Li Tiezhu was Li Qiankun’s son, and Xu Junran remembered he was around the age to get married, about twenty-six or twenty-seven.

"Tiezhu went to the fields with the production team."

Just as they were talking, Li Qiankun’s voice came from inside, "Who’s outside?"

Xu Junran smiled, "Uncle Qiankun, it’s me, Junran."

He then smiled at Li Qiankun’s wife, "Auntie, I’ll go inside to talk to Uncle about something."

"Go ahead, go ahead. You’re discussing public matters," she said. Clearly, everyone had a deep affection for Xu Junran, the “top scholar” of Lijia Town. It was as if a big figure had suddenly emerged from their own family, and every household felt proud. This was a simple class sentiment, far different from the coldness of later commodity society.

Entering Li Qiankun’s house, Xu Junran wasn’t a stranger. There wasn’t much furniture, and although Li Qiankun was the head of the commune, he wasn’t the type to take advantage of his position. Besides, Lijia Town was one of the poorest places in the county and city, relying on government relief grain every year, so there wasn’t much to gain.

"Uncle, are you not planning to go to work today?"

Xu Junran saw Li Qiankun still in bed and asked with a smile.

Li Qiankun, seeing it was Xu Junran, didn’t get up, just turned over and pointed to the bed, "Sit down first. Did you just get back from Beijing? Have you seen your great-grandfather?"

Xu Junran nodded, "Yes, I did."

"How did it go in Beijing?" This was what Li Qiankun was most concerned about. Unlike the county leaders like Yan Wangsong, Li Qiankun, who had been the head of the commune for many years, knew very well that if Xu Junran’s plan succeeded, the people of Lijia Town wouldn’t have to worry about hunger anymore.

Xu Junran smiled, liking this aspect of Li Qiankun. The more grassroots the rural officials, the more they understood the needs of the people compared to the high-ranking leaders.

"It’s all set. Next week, a professor from the Agricultural Research Institute will come to investigate our commune’s situation, and the construction team has also been arranged. The boss gave us five thousand yuan. I discussed it with my great-grandfather, and we decided to send a hundred people first, with fifty yuan as a down payment for each person."

"Fifty yuan? That’s a lot!" Li Qiankun sat up in bed, surprised.

Xu Junran smiled, "It’s an advance. I calculated that if our workers go to Lingnan, they can earn five yuan a day if the work is good, which is one hundred and fifty yuan a month."

This calculation left Li Qiankun speechless, "My goodness, that’s as much as the workers in the city earn?"

In the 1980s, only workers in large enterprises could earn nearly a hundred yuan a month. According to Xu Junran’s calculation, the hundred construction workers from Lijia Town would earn more than the workers.

Xu Junran nodded, "The main work is building houses. Uncle Qiankun, I suggest you take the lead and talk to the production teams. Our commune has five production teams, and each team should send twenty people, the most skilled masons and carpenters. This is our first time working far away, so we must do a good job. If we build a good reputation, we’ll get more projects in the future. If we need more people, we can find them from home."

His idea was simple: share the benefits and bind the entire Lijia Town commune together.