PCJ – Chapter 328 Fertile Water Doesn’t Flow to Outsiders

Zhang Jiaohua fell asleep in the old house. When his parents came back, he completely relaxed, and it seemed like all the fatigue suddenly washed over him. While sitting and listening to the adults talk, Zhang Jiaohua’s eyelids began to droop. The adults’ conversation became blurry, almost like a dream.

Seeing how tired Jiaohua was, Liu Qiaoye picked him up and held him in her arms.

“This child must be exhausted,” Liu Qiaoye said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

“How could he not be? A child managing such a big responsibility. Every day, he’s been waiting for you two to return. Don’t be fooled by how calm he seems—he’s more anxious than anyone else. Qiaoye, Youping, things are different now. Your family isn’t struggling so much that you can’t even afford a pound of meat. The gardening business has made a decent profit over the year. You two really don’t need to go back to Guangdong,” Ma Donghua said sympathetically, looking at Jiaohua in Liu Qiaoye’s arms. Even though he was already asleep, his face still wore a slight smile, showing how much joy his parents’ return had brought him.

“We’ve decided—we’re not going back,” Liu Qiaoye said, her gaze fixed on the child in her arms.

“But it’s a shame to give up the recycling station now that it’s finally running well,” Zhang Youping hesitated. It was his first business, and giving it up felt like abandoning a child.

“No matter how well it’s doing, it’s not as important as Jiaohua. Even if the recycling station is successful, it doesn’t compare to the bamboo tube black tea, which won a gold medal at the provincial level,” Zhang Manyin chimed in.

“Yes! Director Zhao said it also won a gold medal at the National Agricultural Expo, and they plan to send it abroad for more competitions. Who knows, it might even win another gold medal,” Liu Qiaoye said proudly. Since the Asian Games, even people from Meizi’ao knew about winning gold medals.

“That’s impressive. Forget the recycling station; no matter how good it is, there’s a limit to what it can achieve,” Ma Donghua said, nearly causing Zhang Youping to explode with frustration.

“Fine, we’ll give up the recycling station,” Zhang Youping said helplessly.

“What are you going to do with it, then?” Zhang Manyin asked.

The saying “Don’t let fertile water flow to outsiders” came to mind—they could let either Jiaohua’s uncle or his older cousin take over the recycling station. However, the couple felt stuck, as choosing one would inevitably cause friction with the other.

Both Zhang Youping and Liu Qiaoye were troubled.

“Don’t worry. Whoever you decide to pass it to, no one will have any objections,” Zhang Manyin said, understanding their dilemma.

“Let my older brother take it. Liu Biao’s personality wouldn’t suit running the recycling station anyway. Let’s see if my brother is willing to do it,” Liu Qiaoye suggested, not wanting to strain family relations. If she handed it over to Liu Biao, even if it didn’t cause a major fallout, there would definitely be tension. But not giving it to him would likely result in only minor complaints.

“You should ask both of them for their opinions first. No need to rush a decision. There’s still time; we can talk about this after the New Year,” Zhang Manyin said, appreciating Qiaoye’s thoughtful approach, though he didn’t want the Zhang family to appear stingy.

“Qiaoye, you should stay the night here. The road to the garden is too far,” Ma Donghua said, ready to prepare beds for them.

“Mom, don’t bother. We’ll head back to the garden. Tomorrow morning, we’ll tidy things up there. The place is spacious and convenient for managing the garden. We’ll probably end up living there long-term. The beds are already made up, so we can sleep there easily. Tomorrow night, we’ll come back here for New Year’s Eve,” Liu Qiaoye quickly responded. She wasn’t tired at all and even wanted to use the night to organize the garden.

“Then at least let Jiaohua sleep here,” Ma Donghua suggested.

“If he wakes up at night, he’ll definitely come looking for us and run straight to the garden,” Liu Qiaoye said, knowing her son’s personality.

The next day, Zhang Manyin mentioned the recycling station to Zhang Youlian, who immediately declined. “Even if it were a mountain of gold, I wouldn’t take it. You saw how pitiful Jiaohua was when Youping and Qiaoye went to Guangdong, left all alone. Besides, it’s not like you can only make money in Guangdong. I’m planning to lease some land to grow tea trees.”

“Growing tea trees is a good idea,” Zhang Manyin agreed, satisfied that Youlian had his own plans.

Although Zhang Youping and Liu Qiaoye came home late, they still planned to visit Liu Qiaoye’s parents. That way, Jiaohua’s grandparents would be at ease.

Their schedule was packed that day, but luckily they had a bicycle. They borrowed another one from Zhang Shicai’s family, and the two of them each rode a bicycle. First, they went to town to buy New Year’s supplies, then they stopped by Fengshui Bridge.

“You two finally made it back. Earlier, I went to Meizitang to try to get Jiaohua to spend the New Year at Fengshui Bridge, but he refused. He said you’d definitely come home for the holiday. It’s a good thing you made it back in time, or the boy would’ve spent New Year’s alone at the garden,” Jiaohua’s grandfather, Liu Tongmao, said, picking up Jiaohua and playfully bumping foreheads with him.

“Normally, we try to get Jiaohua to stay with us for a few days, but he never agrees,” his grandmother, Luo Dongzhen, said with a pout, expressing her displeasure.

“Grandpa, why do you only hold Jiaohua? I want to be held too,” little Liu Xi said, wiping two lines of snot with his sleeve.

“You’re so big already, and you’re still not hygienic?” Zhang Jiaohua looked at him with disdain.

“Jiaohua, let’s go play with firecrackers. My dad bought a ton of them,” Liu Xi tugged at Zhang Jiaohua’s sleeve.

“Alright, let’s go,” Zhang Jiaohua said, jumping off Liu Tongmao and running off with Liu Xi. Before long, the sound of firecrackers echoed through the yard.

“Jiaohua, don’t throw the firecrackers into the manure pit!” Luo Dongzhen hurriedly ran out, shouting.

Little troublemakers like them would do just about anything for fun.

The year before, during New Year’s, Jiaohua had taken Liu Xi out to play with firecrackers. When they spotted a pile of cow dung on the road, Jiaohua had stuck a firecracker into it, lit it, and ran off. The fuse was a quick one, only lasting a few seconds before it exploded. Jiaohua had run fast enough to avoid getting hit, but Liu Xi, clueless as ever, stood nearby and got completely splattered with dung, even getting some on his face. In the end, Jiaohua had gotten a serious spanking from Liu Qiaoye.

But that wasn’t even the worst of it. Some of the other kids in the village pulled even crazier pranks than Jiaohua.

“Alright, I’m going to blow up some fish in the pond,” Zhang Jiaohua joked, as the two kids ran off even faster, leaving Luo Dongzhen far behind.

“Youping, are you going to Guangdong again next year?” Liu Tongmao asked.

Liu Qiaoye shook her head. “We’re not going. Leaving Jiaohua alone this year made me feel awful. Now that the garden brings in some money, we plan to stay and manage it properly, and take care of Jiaohua.”

“That’s a good idea. Money can’t buy everything. Leaving your child at home isn’t right. It felt like Jiaohua was a poor kid without parents, living in the garden all alone,” Luo Dongzhen said.

“By the way, with Youping not going to Guangdong, there won’t be anyone managing the recycling station. He put so much effort into building it up, and it would be a real shame to let it go. Even though running the recycling station is hard work, the income is quite good. We were wondering if Biaozi might be interested in taking it over,” Liu Qiaoye said.

“Are you sure your in-laws won’t have an issue with that?” Liu Tongmao asked, a bit concerned.

“Dad, I already asked Youping’s older brother first. He said he’s planning to start a tea farm and doesn’t want to travel so far,” Liu Qiaoye explained, feeling a little embarrassed. She hadn’t prioritized her own family in this matter.

“Qiaoye, you did the right thing. Whether or not your brother-in-law takes it, you have to ask him first. You’re married into the Zhang family, so your first priority is to think about them. You can’t always think about your own family. Your brother isn’t starving. He made some money in Guangdong last year, and things are easier for him now,” Luo Dongzhen said, pleased with her daughter’s approach.

Liu Biao, however, had no interest in the recycling station. “I’m not going to the city. I want to plant tea trees on the mountain. Everyone else is getting into tea, and it’s doing well,” he said.

“Now that Liu Biao’s farming tea trees too, you two should work together to help Jiaohua manage the tea farm in Meizitang,” Luo Dongzhen said.

Liu Biao laughed. “Big sis, don’t worry. Just focus on managing the tea farm well. When your tea is ready, I’ll help sell it.”

“You should stay and eat lunch with us,” Liu Tongmao said.

“No, we still have work to do at the garden. Tomorrow, we’ll come for the New Year,” Zhang Youping said, glancing at his watch and urging everyone to get back on the bicycles.