PCJ – Chapter 289 Ghost Wall

As soon as Zhang Manyin’s rice was dried, Zhang Dechun came by to collect the grain. Zhang Manyin thought it over and decided to act quickly. He realized that in a few days, everyone in the village would likely have their grain ready. Other villages would be in the same situation. By then, the grain collection would peak, and there would be long queues. More importantly, it would be hard to get a tractor. If he could gather enough grain now, he could avoid the hassle. The grain from the Lian family was also dried today. If he waited a few more days, the rice might need to be stored, risking spoilage and a drop in quality and price. With the upcoming fertilizer application and the need to buy more fertilizer, it made sense to act now. Additionally, the grain collection was just starting, and the grain station would likely be paying in cash instead of vouchers. So, Zhang Manyin went to the Lian family to discuss his plan.

“Yulian, we’ll have to turn in the grain sooner or later. Why not do it while the grain is still out of storage? That way, we won’t have to worry about it,” Zhang Manyin said without entering the house, speaking from the courtyard.

“Alright. I’ll call Liu Qianwang for his tractor. It will definitely be in high demand in a few days. But did you talk to Jiaohua?” Zhang Yulian nodded.

“I’ll go talk to him now. His grain is already dried,” Zhang Manyin said, heading towards the horticultural farm.

After finishing the double cropping, Zhang Jiaohua went back to the horticultural farm. The wild boars from the pig farm had grown into large pigs, but Zhang Jiaohua still let them out every day. They continued to damage his crops. However, it was quite strange. Wild boars from the mountains typically ruin at least ten acres of crops for every acre they enter. Yet, Zhang Jiaohua’s pigs only consumed what they were given, without causing extensive damage to the crops. They only ate the pig feed Zhang Jiaohua grew, leaving the soybeans untouched.

Initially, Zhang Manyin worried that these wild boars might damage the tea trees. However, they only turned the soil under the tea trees without harming them, seemingly improving the soil. The tea trees, instead of being damaged, grew better, with dead trees replaced by new, green shoots. The once gloomy horticultural farm had transformed into a vibrant and thriving place.

The navel orange seedlings between the tea trees had also grown quickly. Within a few months, they had reached a height of about one person and had several branches. By the next year, some would likely bear fruit. Zhang Manyin was concerned that as these navel orange trees grew, they might overshadow the tea trees. Given the high demand for Zhang Jiaohua’s bamboo tube black tea, even the processed Zi River Maojian tea was not cheap. If these navel orange trees replaced the tea trees, it would be a shame. But where could he find such a large space to move the navel orange trees? Managing such a large horticultural farm was already challenging for a child like Jiaohua. Adding a vast number of navel orange trees would only make things more difficult, affecting his ability to attend school.

“Grandpa, you’re here!” The herding dogs, familiar with Zhang Manyin, wagged their tails as he entered. Zhang Jiaohua was soon informed of his arrival.

“Yeah, it’s about the grain collection. Dechun should have notified you,” Zhang Manyin asked.

“Yes, when do we turn it in?” Zhang Jiaohua asked.

“We plan to turn it in tomorrow. You should get the grain bagged tonight and take it to the town grain station tomorrow,” Zhang Manyin replied.

“Alright, I’ll get it done,” Zhang Jiaohua said and started bagging the grain that night. He had only one acre of rice, totaling over three hundred pounds in six burlap sacks.

Early the next morning, Liu Qianwang arrived at Meizitang with his tractor. Zhang Manyin’s family loaded up the tractor with a full load of rice. Originally, Zhang Yulian didn’t want to bring Zhang Yuanbao, but Zhang Runtian insisted on going if Zhang Yuanbao was going. In the end, they all went.

“Alright, they can all come along. It’s fine for the kids to sit in the middle of the tractor, just make sure they don’t fall off,” Liu Qianwang said with a smile.

Zhang Yulian decided to take the kids, as it was a rare chance for them to ride to town. Rural children are easily pleased, and a bowl of dumplings would satisfy them.

The tractor was packed, and Zhang Jiaohua, Zhang Yuanbao, and Zhang Runtian sat on top. The bumpy dirt road was not particularly uncomfortable for those used to tractors.

The tractor was the most advanced transportation in Meizi’ao. Hiring a tractor for a wedding was quite a big deal. For everyday use, riding a tractor to town was considered a privilege.

“Jiaohua, when I grow up and make money, I’ll buy a tractor and take you to town,” Zhang Yuanbao said as the wind blew into his face.

“My mother says I should marry someone who drives a tractor. That way, we can always travel by car,” Zhang Runtian said, her face a bit red. Even at a young age, she was starting to understand marriage.

“Jeep cars seem more comfortable than tractors,” Zhang Jiaohua said, wishing for a jeep like the one Lu Changjun drove, showing a more refined taste compared to Zhang Yuanbao’s siblings.

Zhang Yuanbao opened his mouth wide, “A jeep is something only government officials can ride.”

As the three siblings chatted, the tractor suddenly stopped.

“Qianwang, why did the tractor stop?” Zhang Yuanbao shouted, only to be lightly tapped on the head by Hu Xiaoqing.

Hu Xiaoqing, smiling, lightly tapped Zhang Yuanbao on the head, unsure if it was a reprimand or encouragement, “You’re being rude.”

“Someone left a bicycle in the middle of the road, covered with branches. It’s not for shade, as it’s been sunny lately. Is it some sort of superstition?” Liu Qianwang said, puzzled. The bicycle was a permanent brand, and it seemed to have no issues. Strangely, it was in the middle of the road, not hidden in the bushes where Zhang Yuanbao and Wu Tong’an had planned to leave it.

“Leaving a brand-new bike here, isn’t that asking to be stolen?” Zhang Yulian also jumped off the tractor.

Zhang Yuanbao tried to get down but was pulled back by Hu Xiaoqing, “Don’t get off.”

“A brand-new bike with no issues, why leave it here?” Liu Qianwang remarked, recognizing it was likely the bike of Wu Tong’an and the family planning officer. The bike was too noticeable to steal without repercussions.

“Let’s move it to the tractor for now and deliver it to the town government later,” Liu Qianwang decided quickly, securing the bike to the tractor before continuing on their way.

Not far down the road, Zhang Yuanbao spotted the two officials.

When they set out from Meizitang, it was just dawn, but now it was broad daylight.

Wu Tong’an and Tu Chunlin were wandering around a field ridge, looking disheveled and covered in mud, clearly exhausted but not stopping. They kept circling the ridge.

“Could they be stuck in a ghost wall?” Liu Qianwang stopped the tractor again.

Hu Xiaoqing, intrigued by the strange sight, jumped off the tractor to watch.

Zhang Jiaohua and Zhang Yuanbao jumped off the tractor as well.

Wu Tong’an and Tu Chunlin’s other bike was in a muddy pond, not the pond they had seen but a small one with thick mud from water buffalo rolling in it. The mud was so thick that their clothes were caked in it. After a night of struggling, their mud had dried and turned white.

Liu Qianwang pulled the bike from the mud, finding it undamaged and with no brake issues.

“On such a flat road, how did they end up in this mud pond?” Liu Qianwang wondered aloud.

Flat road! This section was the flattest part of the road to the town government, not the steep slope Wu Tong’an had seen.