?56: Chapter 56 Heavy Rain 56: Chapter 56 Heavy Rain “Off with you, stop pawing at me,” Fen Ran swatted Ye Canghai’s hands away.

    Having just finished their business, she had absolutely no interest and said, “Fair’s fair, we’ve got to split it fifty-fifty.

    We can’t just sit at home doing nothing.

    We’ve got to support Liu Hun and work together.”

    “Wifey, how come you look even prettier today, my heart...

    why’s it so watery?” Ye Canghai was buttering Fen Ran up when suddenly his hand pressed onto the sofa and felt some water.

    Fen Ran’s face instantly turned red.

    Just as she was worrying about how to respond, there was a knock at the door.

    Knock, knock, knock...

    Knock, knock, knock...

    Village chief!

    Ye Village Chief!”

    Ye Canghai knew it was a call for mahjong as soon as he heard it.

    He could only give a sheepish smile to Fen Ran and say, “Wifey, there’s something in the town, I won’t be coming back tonight.” With that, he rubbed his hands and left.

    Fen Ran spat toward Ye Canghai’s retreating back, “Useless, all you know is gambling!

    One of these days, I’ll definitely run off with someone else!” Then, she hastily got up to check and saw a large patch of water stain on the sofa, her face turning red and her heart racing as she murmured, “Oh dear, you’ll be the death of me, you rascal, never knowing where my itch lies.”

    With just over a month until the oranges were ripe, the fruits in the Orange Garden looked droopy, like wilted chrysanthemums.

    But Liu Hun wasn’t worried at all; not only was he not anxious, but he also had Du Yueling and Qin Yue spread the news of his orange orchard, stirring up the villagers who weren’t involved in his new venture.

    “Why’s Liu Hun doing this?

    Why didn’t he include us?

    Logically speaking, we didn’t lose money planting mushrooms last time; we all put in some effort.”

    “What effort?

    Just keeping watch over that patch of land to keep the pheasants and wild dogs at bay.

    So many of our village folks just went there to laze around; we might as well tie a guard dog there!

    Can’t blame Liu Hun for not calling us; just look how many of us are willing to truly put in the work.

    Aren’t they all just hopping on for a free ride?”

    “I’m saying, it’s true.

    Liu Hun is doing his own thing, he gets all the money for himself, how comfy is that.

    I reckon we should rely on ourselves and not be like lazy donkeys to the grindstone, nothing done despite being busy all day.

    Let’s just wait and see, that Liu Hun is bound for a bumper harvest!”

    “Hey!

    Look at you people, Liu Hun’s not taking you along, and you’re still there groveling and licking his boots!

    Liu Hun up on the lookout tower, dreaming of gold—greedy!

    The harvest is about to begin, just look at the fruits in Ye Canghai’s garden!

    I bet Liu Hun’s gonna fall flat on his face this time!”

    “...”

    Liu Hun’s move really had a significant effect.

    Having set the precedent with vegetable and mushroom farming, giving villagers a taste of success, now that he was running the orchard without them involved, complaints and grumbles were natural, as were those who began to reflect on their participation.

    According to Du Yueling, Liu Hun’s move was like alternating carrots with sticks.

    In just a month, Liu Hun had not only reclaimed the part of the fruit garden left to waste by Ye Canghai, but also nurtured the fruits as if they were golden treasures.

    Standing in the Orange Garden, Du Yueling smiled, her dimples looking as though they could hold spring itself.

    With her slender fingers, she peeled an orange slice and fed one to herself and another to Liu Hun.

    Watching his goofy grin, she felt the air was filled with love.

    But Nature wasn’t kind today, and what shouldn’t happen, happened just then—a flash of lightning streaked across the night sky, followed by a downpour that didn’t let up for a day and a night.

    Liu Hun was really at a loss as the rain poured down, just when his mother was getting married.

    What he worried about the most was the soon-to-be-harvested Orange Garden.

    Liu Hun asked Du Yueling to wait in the temple, while he himself, wearing a rain hat, went to the Orange Garden.

    The sight of the water level rising dangerously close to submerging the orange trees panicked him, fearing that if the water rose further, it would wash away the oranges and ruin everything.

    Liu Hun immediately went to Ye Canghai’s house to discuss countermeasures, only to find the village accountant Mo Wen inside.

    He ignored Mo Wen and simply relayed the situation of the Orange Garden to Ye Canghai.

    After listening to Liu Hun, Ye Canghai scratched his head and turned to Mo Wen, “Detian, do you have any ideas?”

    Mo Wen glanced at Liu Hun with malice since after being dealt with by Liu Hun last time, he’d been hiding in town, only returning occasionally when Ye Canghai had some work.

    Hearing Ye Canghai’s question, his ill-intent surged like a spring dug out with a hoe, cleared his throat, and said to Ye Canghai, “Village chief, I think there’s something fishy about this matter.”

    “Fishy?

    What’s fishy?” Ye Canghai asked, puzzled.

    Mo Wen glanced at Liu Hun and said with a sneer, “Tell me, how long have you been taking care of this orange orchard?

    When have you seen anything like this happen?”

    Liu Hun immediately caught the insinuation in Mo Wen’s tone and said coldly, “Accountant Mo, what do you mean by that?”

    “What do I mean?” Upon hearing Liu Hun’s question, Mo Wen got all fired up, jumping around as though stung by a bee, “You don’t understand what I mean?

    Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes with that ignorant act!

    Why is it that ever since you took over the Orange Garden, such a thing happened this year?”

    “Thanks for the high praise, Mo Wen, if I had the ability to make it rain, I’d definitely make you shut up first,” Liu Hun retorted without showing any weakness.

    If it weren’t for Ye Canghai’s presence, he would have already made Mo Wen shut up.

    “What the hell are you talking about!

    What do you know, huh?

    How many days have you been to school?

    Illiterate plus hooligan!” Mo Wen cursed Liu Hun furiously, harboring resentment since being previously outdone by Liu Hun, and today he finally found an outlet to vent his anger.

    Liu Hun was concerned about the Orange Garden and didn’t want to bother with Mo Wen, who seemed to have rabies.

    He turned to Ye Canghai and said, “Village chief, we need to think of a way to protect the oranges, that’s the most important thing right now.”

    “Exactly!

    So tell me, how can we protect the oranges?” Ye Canghai’s head bobbed like an onion, all in one go without a single turn, kicking the ball straight back to Liu Hun.

    Liu Hun didn’t expect Ye Canghai to turn to him directly without a thought, he was just taken aback when Mo Wen saw his chance and said, “Village chief, I think there’s something fishy going on here!”

    “What kind of fishy?” Ye Canghai asked Mo Wen.

    Dragging out his words, Mo Wen said to Ye Canghai, “Village chief, think about it.

    Every time Liu Hun led our villagers, they made money, ate meat, and drank wine.

    Why did he only come to you this time and not others?

    Why did things go south just this time?

    We need to ponder over this!”

    Ye Canghai’s bias grew like flames fanned by Mo Wen until he felt like there might indeed be something to it.

    After looking at Liu Hun, he asked Mo Wen, “Quit talking nonsense.

    What should we do about it now?”

    “There’s a way!” Mo Wen immediately went along with the topic and said, “It’s very simple!”

    “Spit it out!

    Hurry up!” Ye Canghai got immediately energized.

    Mo Wen smirked and said, “Village chief, do you remember the agreement you signed with Liu Hun before?”

    As soon as he heard this, Liu Hun became wary, unsure what mischief Mo Wen was up to.

    “Of course, I remember!

    How could I not?

    What does that contract have to do with this rain?” Ye Canghai asked in confusion.

    “Don’t rush, village chief.

    Let me explain it to you slowly,” Mo Wen said to Ye Canghai and then slowly remarked, “Didn’t the contract say that Liu Hun is managing the Orange Garden this year and should give you half of the money from the orchard?”

    “Yes!

    What’s the problem with that?” Ye Canghai didn’t see anything wrong.

    Mo Wen immediately jumped in, “That’s exactly it!

    By my estimate, the Orange Garden should yield a hundred thousand this year.

    Let Liu Hun cough up fifty thousand!

    Liu Hun has made a lot of money before, so this sum is nothing to him!”

    “What?” Liu Hun now knew exactly what Mo Wen was selling in his gourd, demanding money from him while the oranges were still on the trees, starting at fifty thousand no less.

    “What?

    Don’t understand?

    Surprised?” Mo Wen asked with a mocking face and then told Liu Hun, “The terms are written clear as day on the agreement.

    Can you read?

    You owe half of the orchard’s harvest in money.”

    “What’s going on here, Detian?

    The oranges haven’t been sold yet.

    How come...

    now you’re asking Liu Hun for money?” Ye Canghai wasn’t as mean-spirited and really couldn’t think of Mo Wen’s angle.

    Mo Wen’s grin twisted like a warped cucumber as he announced, “It’s black on white, clear as day.

    Liu Hun owes half of the money.

    Who ever said it was after the oranges are sold and then split the proceeds?

    Where is that written?

    Show me!

    If it’s not written, then that settles it!”

    Ye Canghai finally got the gist of it, realizing Mo Wen was exploiting a loophole in the contract.

    But on second thought, it seemed like Mo Wen’s method wasn’t entirely unfeasible, plus Liu Hun was the one with money now, not him.

    With that, Ye Canghai’s mind began to bubble with activity like fermenting dough.

    “Mo Wen, you’ve got a heart blackened by eating coal, you bastard.

    Trying to play these little tricks with me?!

    I’m telling you, if I didn’t have to consider the village chief’s face, I would cripple you today!

    Remember what happened before and learn your lesson, don’t forget the beatings along with the meals.

    This is not a threat,” Liu Hun glared at Mo Wen with a cold look in his eyes.

    Mo Wen shivered and took a step back, daring not meet Liu Hun’s gaze any longer, he had to say to Ye Canghai, “Village chief, I’m doing all this for your benefit, this is a no-lose deal.”

    “What no-lose deal?!

    Mo Wen, I’m warning you, you better not be stirring things up with Canghai.

    Your idea is a non-starter!” Fen Ran stepped down from the upstairs holding a hat and spade, worrying about the orchard’s fruit, ready to check it out, but didn’t expect to run into Liu Hun visiting.

    After coming downstairs, Fen Ran said to Ye Canghai, “Canghai, you’re the village chief.

    How can you go back on your word?

    Mo Wen’s approach is, frankly, nothing but hooliganism.

    Do you not know what kind of person he is?

    If this gets out, people will laugh us to death.

    Who will respect your authority as village chief then?

    Right now, we should be finding a way to solve this problem, not scheming for Liu Hun’s money!”