CHAPTER 67: CHAPTER 67: THE FEELING OF A WEALTHY LANDLORD

"Mom, look at what I’ve prepared for you!"

Jiang Xiaoxiao opened the cupboard.

Fan Xiuying was so surprised her jaw almost dropped.

The cupboard was stacked full with four bags of grain.

It looked like white flour.

"Where did you get this?"

Fan Xiuying’s voice lowered by eight degrees.

"I ran into someone on the road today. His family was in urgent need of money due to illness. He said he’s from nearby Dawang Village. His family received quite a bit of grain and wanted to exchange it for money to pay for the medical bills. They didn’t need ration coupons and were selling at the same price as the grain store! I thought it was a win-win situation.Not only did it alleviate their crisis, but we also got to buy grain easily.This is something we can’t even buy with a ration book. I didn’t hesitate and decided on my own to get four hundred pounds of white flour. The baozi we just ate was made from this flour. Tasted quite fresh, didn’t it?"

Jiang Xiaoxiao had already come up with an excuse.

There are several villages around here. Near their factory, aside from Xiao Wang Village, there’s Dawang Village, Xiaojingyu Village, and others. All are rural areas nearby and the only places with land to grow grains.

Hearing this, Fan Xiuying’s eyes lit up.

"Oh, you’re a lucky child to have encountered such a kind person. Selling it without adding a single cent, not fearing that you, a child, might spill the secret and get him caught red-handed. So much grain, if confiscated, it would be a disaster."

Yet, she clicked her tongue and felt comfortable touching the solid, real flour.

Having grain at home, there’s no panic in the heart.

She and Jiang Lao Shi could only get twenty-seven and a half pounds each per month as their personal allowance, totaling fifty-five pounds. Children under eighteen get only sixteen pounds each month. Now, they have a full four hundred pounds of grain.

If that’s the case, they effectively have a year’s worth of provisions secured.

How could she not be happy?

"Mom, don’t tell anyone, but here’s some good news. That uncle said they don’t lack grain and might be able to get us some more if given the chance. I’ll visit again in a few days. Who knows, maybe I can get a bit more. By then, let’s not let grandma and grandpa go back.

When I visit Kenqing Farm, there’ll be more grain available. I want grandma and grandpa to retire comfortably in the city. Mom, you must promise me."

Jiang Xiaoxiao was simply not at ease. If they were in the village, grandma and grandpa might end up like they did in the previous life, with grandpa passing away early.

She couldn’t stand to see her grandparents suffer again in this life.

This lifetime, she has the ability to let her grandparents live a good life and can’t bear to see them endure hardship.

Reborn once, the heavens have given her a golden finger, not to watch her family tread down the same path again.

Fan Xiuying was quite eager. "Really, more?"

Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded, patting her chest with assurance; there’s plenty in her space.

With one more night, by tomorrow, there will be a large supply.

Getting a thousand pounds of white flour for mom and dad is not a problem.

"I’ve already arranged it with them."

Fan Xiuying was moved. With grain, there would no longer be concerns about her parents’ rations here.

Being with her parents, taking care of mom and dad, how could she disagree?

"Then I’ll go with you tomorrow."

"No way!"

Jiang Xiaoxiao hurriedly stopped her, drawing Fan Xiuying’s curiosity.

"Why are you so loud, child? Why not? For things like this, it’s better if mom steps in than you as a child."

Fan Xiuying immediately suspected her daughter might be up to no good again.

Their daughter used to be just a little spoiled, but now!

She was top-notch at causing trouble, daring to do whatever came to her mind.

Jiang Xiaoxiao covered her mouth with a laugh; she was too anxious.

The secret definitely couldn’t be exposed.

"Mom! I won’t let you go for your own good. The uncle said yesterday, I can’t bring strangers along, or else he wouldn’t show up. Mainly, he’s also afraid I might report him. If I suddenly bring you along, then that uncle might deny selling us grain, what would we do then?"

Jiang Xiaoxiao’s little brain was quick to think, and quickly came up with an idea.

Fan Xiuying nodded, "You’re right! With things like this, who dares let outsiders know too much! If you casually bring me along, they might suspect we intend to harm them. After all, if caught red-handed nowadays, it’s no small matter.

But letting you, a young girl, do this, what if you get caught, what then?"

Fan Xiuying was variously worried, mainly for her daughter. If she got caught red-handed over this, it would label her a speculator.

This kind of stain could lead to being looked down upon by the farm leaders later on.

Moreover, engaging in speculation leads to imprisonment.

Jiang Xiaoxiao immediately knew what was on Fan Xiuying’s mind.

"Mom, you don’t need to worry about this. That big brother has already thought of a plan. If we get caught, we’ll say it’s just a family member sending some grain to another. Is that illegal?"

She was adept at making things up.

Since her rebirth, Jiang Xiaoxiao felt she was becoming quite the expert liar.

Words just flowed.

Fan Xiuying was still worried, but this was hundreds of pounds of grain, saying no would be nonsense.

In this era, no household had enough, and the meager rations were simply insufficient.

Every family bought grain starting each month, and before mid-month would have to find ways to borrow ration coupons from neighbors.

Especially their family, with children in their growth phase, they ate a lot.

If they could have this grain, alongside Xiaoxiao’s farming, they could send more by year-end.

Having two elderly folks at home wouldn’t be a problem.

Fan Xiuying couldn’t let go of this opportunity.

"Alright, then be careful. I’ll have your brother secretly follow you for protection. If anything happens, just run. We’d rather lose money than have you caught."

Fan Xiuying was still uneasy.

Jiang Xiaoxiao laughed, "Alright, let big brother secretly follow behind."

Her big brother was quite straightforward; he wasn’t that observant.

It was very easy to fool her brother.

Fan Xiuying watched her daughter agree, finally feeling at ease in her heart. Although her son wasn’t reliable, his intention to protect his sister had never changed.

Jiang Lei runs fast, that kid is sharp.

"What are you two up to? Mother and daughter whispering secrets in the kitchen, come on in."

Jiang Lao Shi spoke from outside. As he approached the kitchen, he overheard their conversation about buying black market grain, which startled him deeply.

Jiang Lao Shi had been a law-abiding man for a lifetime, never daring to take even a piece of scrap from the factory. Hearing this, he was a bit frightened.

Jiang Xiaoxiao and Fan Xiuying stepped out.

Jiang Lao Shi waited for his daughter to enter and immediately pulled Fan Xiuying aside.

"Why do you and your daughter act so irresponsibly? The black market is no place for us!"

Fan Xiuying glared, "Alright, don’t glare at me. Go in and see for yourself, the cupboard’s full of grain is your daughter’s doing today. We’ve already done it once, what’s there to fear! At worst, we’ll be more careful the second time. Once we have this stock of grain, we won’t need to visit the black market again."

Fan Xiuying was moved by the grain, suddenly feeling like a wealthy landlord.